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natural history. 
The KING of the VULTURES, 
T 
_ HIS bird differs from the eagle, in its 
indelicate voracity ; preying more upon car- 
rion than live animals; which difpofitioii 
feems wifely adopted by providence, as a pre- 
vention againft the naufeous and epidemical 
ctfefts that might otherwife arife from carca- 
fes being left to putrify on the eartli. Its prey- 
ing on the eggs of crocodiles, which lay eact 
of them at leaf!; two or three hundred, in the 
fands, is another difpenfation of divine provi- 
dence, in order to prevent too great an increafe 
of thofe voracious and deftruftive animals. 
T. he form of this bird is diftinguiflied from 
the eagle, by tlie nakednefs of its head and 
neck, though, not being deftined to prey par- 
ticularly on living birds. See. their flight is 
not equal to that of the eagle, falcon, or hawk. 
But, being allured by putrefaction, their feiife 
offmellingis proportionably cxquifite. Hap- 
pily for us, it is a ftranger to England, while 
it is found in Arabia, Egypt, and many parts 
of Africa and Afia., There is a down under 
the wings, which in the African markets is 
frequently fold as a valuable fur. 
T. hq^ulturc is conlidercd lb ferviccable in 
^SypL that, in Grand Cairo, large flocks 
are permitted to refide, in order to devour 
tlie 
