3/8 
CARRION VULTURE. 
racious appetite is of such singular service to the in- 
habitants, must be obvious to every one. But their 
use is not limited to the removal of the dead and 
putrid carcases ; they have another claim upon the 
gratitude of mankind, for lessening the number of 
those destructive animals the alligators, which would 
otherwise become intolerable by their multitudes. 
Mr. Pennant observes, that during the season in 
which the alligators lay their eggs in the sand, the 
vultures will sit hidden in the leaves of the trees, 
watching the coming of the female alligator to deposit 
its eggs, who then covers them with sand, to secure 
them, as she supposes, from all danger ; but no sooner 
does she retire into the water, than the birds dart 
on the spot, and with claws, wings, and beak, tear 
away the sand and devour the whole contents of the 
repository. 
The resemblance which these animals bear to the 
turkey was the cause of great disappointment to one 
of the officers who went round the world with 
Woodes Rogers. In the island of Lobos, large 
flocks of vultures were seen ; and this gentleman, 
deceived by their appearance, and eager to enjoy 
the expected feast, would not even wait till the 
boat could put him on shore, but leaped overboard 
with his gun in his hand, and, having reached the 
island, fired among the thickest of them and killed 
several. But how completely was he disappointed, 
when he reached the spot, to find all his fancied 
turkeys changed to stinking vultures ! 
