NATURAL HISTORY. I09 
the carrion of that great city, which would 
otherwifc be liable to frequent peftilence. 
It is ferviceable, likewife, in thofe coun- 
tries where hunters purfue, and deftroy ani- 
' trials merely for their flcins ; as they follow, 
i and devour ' the bodies before they lie long 
enough to corrupt the air ; which they do fo 
greedily and voracioufly, as to be unable to 
fly. But, when they are attacked, they have 
j a power, of lightening their ftomachs, fo as 
i to eflfedt their efcape. 
I This bird is fomewhat larger than a tur- 
key cock, and remarkable for the uncommon 
formation of the flcin covering the head and 
neck, (which is of an orange colour) being- 
bare. The eyes are furroundcd with a flcin 
ofafcarlet colour, and have a beautiful pearl- 
coloured iri^. Although the king of the vul- 
tures ftands confelfedly the moft beautiful of 
this deformed race, its habits are equally dif- 
agreeable with the reft. 
The flight an<l cry of thefe birds, being 
particularly obfervecl and attended to by the 
Roman Augurs, muft have arifen from their 
confidering, where they were moft inclined 
to diredt their flight, from the previous fenfe 
they had of an arproaching flaughter ; which 
theftomans always flattered thcmfelves was 
to enlue of the enemies they were to engage 
7h! 
K 
