250 OBSERVATIONS ON VULTURES 
my hungry birds would jump against the bars, hiss 
furiously, and attempt all in their power to reach the 
food. This was repeatedly done with fresh and putrid 
substances, all very congenial to their taste. 
<c Satisfied within myself, I dropped these trials, but 
fed the birds until full grown, and then turned them out 
into the yard of the kitchen for the purpose of picking 
up whatever substances might be thrown to them. 
<Their voracity, however, soon caused their death ; 
young pigs were not safe, if within their reach ; and 
young ducks, turkeys, or chickens, were such a constant 
temptation, that the cook, unable to watch them, killed 
them both, to put an end to their depredations. 
“ Whilst I had these two young vultures in confine- 
ment, an extraordinary occurrence took place respecting 
an old bird of the same kind, which I cannot help 
relating to you. This bird, sailing over the yard whilst 
I was experimenting with the pole and squirrels, saw 
the food, and alighted on the roof of one of the out- 
houses, then alighted on the ground, walked directly 
to the cage, and attempted to reach the food within. 
I approached it carefully, and it hopped off a short 
distance; as I retired, it returned, when always the 
appearances of the strongest congratulations would 
take place from the young towards this new comer. 
I directed several young negroes to drive it gently 
towards the stable, and to try to make it go in there. 
This would not do ; but, after a short time, I helped to 
drive it into that part of the gin-house where the cotton 
seeds are deposited, and there caught it. I easily dis- 
covered that the bird was so emaciated, that to this state 
of poverty only I owed my success. I put it in with 
the young, who both at once jumped about him, making 
most extraordinary gestures of welcome ; whilst the 
old bird, quite discomfited at his confinement, lashed 
both with great violence with his bill. Fearing the 
death of the young, I took them out, and fed plentifully 
the old bird : his appetite had become so great through 
fasting, that he ate too much, and died of suffocation. 
“ I could enumerate many more instances, indicating 
