252 
OBSERVATIONS ON VULTURES 
and carrion crows assembled near a dead ox, at the 
dusk of evening, that had only two or three in the 
morning, when some of the latter comers had probably 
travelled hundreds of miles; searching diligently them- 
selves for food, and probably would have had to go 
much farther, had they not espied this association. 
Around the spot both species remain ; some of them 
examining the dead body, giving it a tug in those parts 
most accessible, until putridity ensues. The accumulated 
number then fall to work, exhibiting a most disgusting 
picture of famished cannibals ; the strongest driving 
the weakest, and the latter harassing the former with 
all the power that a disappointed hungry stomach can 
produce. They are seen jumping off the carcass, 
re-attacking it, entering it, and wrestling for portions 
partly swallowed by two or more of them, hissing at a 
furious rate, and clearing every moment their nostrils 
from the filth that enters there, and stops their breath- 
ing. No doubt remains on my mind, that the great 
outward dimensions of these nostrils were allotted them 
for that especial and necessary purpose. 
a The animal is soon reduced to a mere skeleton ; no 
portion of it being now too hard not to be torn apart 
and swallowed, leaving merely the bare bones. Soon 
all these bloody feeders are seen standing gorged, and 
scarcely ab to take wing. At such times the observer 
may approach very near the group, whilst engaged in 
feeding, and see the vultures in contact with the dogs, 
who really, by smelling, have found the prey. When- 
ever this happens, it is with the greatest reluctance 
that the birds suffer themselves to be driven off, although 
frequently the sudden scowl, or growl, of the dogs will 
cause nearly all the vultures to rise a few yards in the 
air. I have several times seen the buzzards feeding at 
one extremity of the carcass, whilst the dogs were 
tearing the other ; but, if a single wolf approached, or 
a pair of white-headed eagles, driven by extreme hunger, 
then the place is abandoned to them, until their wants are 
supplied. The repast finished, each bird gradually rises 
to the highest branches of the nearest trees, and remains 
