BLACK VULTURE. 
13 
there were more, besides several in the air over my 
head, and at a distance. I ventured cautiously within 
thirty yards of the carcass, where three or four dog’s, and 
twenty or thirty vultures, were busily tearing- and 
devouring-. Seeing- them take no notice, I ventured 
nearer, till I was within ten yards, and sat down on 
the bank. Still they paid little attention to me. Tim 
dog-s being- sometimes accidentally flapped with the wing's 
ol‘ the vultures, would growl and snap at them, which 
would occasion them to spring- up for a moment, but 
they immediately gathered in again. I remarked the 
vultures frequently attack each other, fighting with their 
daws or heels, striking like a cock, with open wings, 
and filing their claws in each other’s head. The 
females, and, I believe, the males likewise, made a hissing- 
sound, with open mouth, exactly resembling that pro- 
duced by thrusting a red hot poker into water; and 
frequently a snuffling, like a dog clearing 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 returned as before. As they were often disturbed 
by the dogs, I ordered the latter home : my voice gave 
no alarm to the vultures. 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 
disappeared. 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 stretching their necks along 
the ground, as if to press the food downwards.” 
The carrion crow is seldom found on the Atlantic, 
4 
