scenting carrion at great distances. 253 
until the full digestion of all the food they have 
(j*U°wed is completed; from time to time opening 
4| , eir Wings to the breeze, or to the sun, either to cool 
(| "'am, themselves. The traveller may theu pass’ 
unnoticed, or, if noticed, a mere sham of flying 
^ ls niade. The bird slowly recloses its wings, looks 
1, person as he passes, and remains there until 
J^ger again urweshim onwards. This takes oftentimes 
than a day” when gradually, and very often singly, 
** Vulture is seen to depart. 
They now rise to an immense height, cutting with 
C at ‘Tegance and ease many circles through the air ; 
a* and then gently closing their wings, they lanch 
r ,J »iselves obliquely with great swiftness for several 
^ dred yards, check and resume their portly move* 
ascending until, like mites in the distance, they 
c 6 teen altogether to leave that neighbourhood, to 
farther the needed means of subsistence, 
k " Having heard it said, no doubt with the desire to 
<ly « that buzzards smell their prey, that these birds 
1 'Nly fly against tlie breeze, 1 may state, that, in my 
tf'jipn, this action is simply used, because it is easier 
L/’irds to maintain themselves on the wing encoun- 
|J"? a moderate portion of wind, than when flying 
|J (lr e it ; hut I have so often witnessed these birds 
if 'dug away under the influence of a strong breeze, as 
^".joying it, that I consider either case as a mere 
l ’|dent connected with their pleasures or their wants. 
I, .Here, my dear sir, let me relate one ol those tacts, 
yhuis in itself, and attributed to mere instinct, but 
jJ’Hj I cannot admit under that appellation, and which, 
*>>y opinion, so borders on reason, that, were I to 
it, I il V that name, 1 hope you will not look on my 
„.' S ,r >'ciit as erroneous, without your farther investi- 
ng the subject in a more general point of view, 
v." Hug one of those heavy gusts that so often take 
1 e in Louisiana in the early parts of summer, I saw 
u ,J( 'k of these birds, which had undoubtedly discovered 
^t the current of air that was tearing all over them 
a mere sheet, raise themselves obliquely against it 
