SCENTING CARRION AT GREAT DISTANCES. 251 
that the power of smelling* in these birds has been 
grossly exaggerated, and that, if they can smell objects 
at any distance, they can see the same objects much 
farther. I would ask any observer of the habits of 
birds, why, if vultures could smell at a great distance 
their prey, they should spend the greater portion of 
their lives hunting for it, when they are naturally so 
lazy, that, if they are fed in one place, they never will 
leave it ; and merely make such a change as is absolutely 
necessary to enable them to reach it. But I will now 
enter on their habits, and you will easily discover how 
this tar famed power has originated. 
“ Vultures are gregarious, and often associate in flocks 
of twenty, forty, or more ; hunting thus together, they 
fly in sight of each other, and thus cover an immense 
extent of country. A flock of twenty may easily survey 
an area of two miles, as they go turning in large circles, 
often inspecting each other in their lines, as if forming 
a vast chain of rounded links ; some are high, whilst 
others are low ; not a spot is passed unseen ; and, 
consequently, the moment that a prey is discovered, 
the favoured bird rounds to, and, by the impetuosity of 
its movements, gives notice to its nearest companion, 
who immediately follows him, and is successively 
attended by all the rest. Thus, the farthest from the 
discoverer being at a considerable distance, sails in a 
direct line towards the spot indicated to him by the 
flight of the others, who all have gone in a straight 
course before him, with the appearance of being impelled 
by this extraordinary power of smelling, so erroneously 
granted them. If the object discovered is large, lately 
dead, and covered with a skin too tough to be ate, and 
torn asunder, and afford free scope to their appetite, 
they remain about it, and in the neighbourhood. Perched 
on high, dead limbs in such conspicuous positions are 
easily seen by other vultures, who, through habit, know 
the meaning of such stoppages, and join the first flock, 
going also directly, and affording farther evidence to 
those persons who are satisfied with appearances only. 
In this manner, I have seen several hundreds of vultures 
