120 
THE VULTURE. 
They sit in a sort of moping, slouching manner, with 
their heads buried within their shoulder-hones, as if torpid, 
or roosting, many of them together, on tall dead pines, or 
cypress-trees, where in the morning they often continue for 
hours, with their wings, measuring from eight to ten feet 
from tip to tip, spread open, as some believe, that the air 
may blow upon and purify their filthy bodies, though more 
probably, that it may gradually dry up a portion of that 
greasy moisture, which might, if very abundant, impede their 
flight, — which is at times prodigious. 
There is one exception to this inactive character of Vul- 
tures, in a bird which is now classed with them, though more 
from certain peculiarities in his plumage and beak, than those 
closer points of resemblance which would fairly entitle him to 
he placed in such bad company. This bird is called the Snake- 
eater ( Vultur serpentarius) , a native of Africa, and of some 
parts of India; and it is here noticed, on account of its singular 
manner of destroying serpents, on which it feeds. An eye- 
witness thus describes it. He was one day riding, when he 
observed a Snake-eater, while on the wing, make two or 
three circles at a little distance from the spot on which he 
then was, and suddenly descend to the ground. On ob- 
serving the bird, he found it engaged in examining and 
watching some object near the spot where it stood, which it 
continued to do for some minutes. After that, it moved with 
considerable apparent caution, to a little distance from the 
spot where it had alighted, and then extended one of its 
wings, which it kept in continual motion. Soon after this, 
the observer saw a large snake raise its head to a considerable 
distance from the ground, which seemed to be what the bird 
was expecting, and waiting for; at the moment the snake 
reared its head, he instantly struck a sharp blow with the 
end of his wing, by which the snake was knocked flat on the 
ground. The bird, however, did not appear confident of 
having slain his enemy, or gained the victory, but kept his 
eye fixed on the reptile for a short time, when the snake 
reviving again, lifted up its head, and the bird as before 
repeated his blow; after this second blow he appeared to gain 
