BLACK VULTURE. 
239 
poker into water ; and frequently a snuffling, like a dog clear- 
ing his nostrils, as I suppose they were theirs. On observing 
that they did not heed me, I stole so close that my feet were 
within one yard of the horse’s legs, and again sat down. They 
all slid aloof a few feet ; but, seeing me quiet, they soon re- 
turned as before. As they were often disturbed by the dogs, 
I ordered the latter home : my voice gave no alarm to the vul- 
tures. As soon as the dogs departed, the vultures crowded in 
such numbers, that I counted at one time thirty-seven on and 
around the carcass, with several within ; so that scarcely an 
inch of it was visible. Sometimes one would come out with a 
large piece of the entrails, which in a moment was surrounded 
by several others, who tore it in fragments, and it soon disap- 
peared. They kept up the hissing occasionally. Some of 
them having their whole legs and heads covered with blood, 
presented a most savage aspect. Still as the dogs advanced, I 
would order them away, which seemed to gratify the vultures ; 
and one would pursue another to within a foot or two of the 
spot where I was sitting. Sometimes I observed them stretch- 
ing their necks along the ground, as if to press the food down- 
wards.” 
The carrion crow is seldom found on the Atlantic, to the 
northward of Newbern, North Carolina,* but inhabits the 
whole continent, to the southward, as far as Cape Horn. Don 
Ulloa, in noticing the birds of Carthagena, gives an account 
of a vulture, which we shall quote, in order to establish the 
opinion, advanced in the preceding history, that it is the pre- 
sent species. We shall afterwards subjoin other testimony in 
confirmation of this opinion. With respect to the marvellous 
tale of their attacking the cattle in the pastures, it is too im- 
probable to merit a serious refutation. 
‘‘ It would be too great an undertaking to describe all the 
* Since writing the above, I have been informed by a gentleman who resides 
at Detroit, on Lake Erie, that the carrion crow is common at that place. 
