SCENTING CARRION AT GREAT DISTANCES. 257 
they prepare to breed early in the month of February, 
in common with almost all the genus Falco. The most 
remarkable habit attached to their life is now to be seen : 
they assemble in parties of eight or ten, sometimes 
more, on large fallen logs, males and females exhibiting 
the strongest desire to please mutually, and forming 
attachments by the choice of a mate by each male, that, 
after many caresses, leads her off on the wing from the 
group, neither to mix or associate with any more, 
until their offspring are well able to follow them in 
the air; after that, and until incubation takes place, 
(about two weeks,) they are seen sailing side by side 
the whole day. 
“ These birds form no nest, yet are very choice 
respecting the place of deposit for their two eggs. 
Deep in the swamps, but always above the line of 
overflowing watermark, a large hollowed tree is 
sought, either standing or fallen, and the eggs are 
dropped on the mouldy particles inside ; sometimes 
immediately near the entrance, at other times as much 
as twenty feet in. Both birds incubate alternately, and 
both feed each other while sitting, by disgorging the 
contents of the stomach, or part of them, immediately 
close before the bird that is sitting. Thirty-two days 
are needed to bring forth the young from the shell ; a 
thick down covers them completely ; the parents, at 
that early period, and, indeed, for nearly two weeks, 
feed them, by gorging food considerably digested in 
their bill, in the manner of the common pigeons. The 
down acquires length, becomes thinner, and of a deeper 
tint, as the bird grows older. The young vultures, at 
three weeks, are large for their age, weighing then 
upwards of a pound, but extremely clumsy and inactive ; 
unable to keep up their wings, then partly covered by 
large pen feathers, they drag them almost to the ground, 
bearing their whole weight on the full length of their 
legs and feet. 
“ If approached at that time by a stranger or enemy, 
they hiss with a noise resembling that of a strangling 
VOL. IV. R 9 
