512 
BIRD-LIFE. 
winded it; and it is as yet too early in the day for the 
Vultures. Those guests which have already arrived 
manage, however, to pick a piece here and there, though 
the thick, leatlier-like skin is so tough as to prevent them 
from indulging in the larger pieces. The single, up-turned 
eye, only, is torn from its socket by some Egyptian 
Vulture ( Neophron ) and devoured. At last the time 
gradually approaches for the large Vultures to wing their 
way in search of food. It is ten o’clock: they have 
had their sleep, and finished dreaming; and now, one 
after another, they leave their roosting-place, having per¬ 
formed their morning toilet, and preened and arranged 
their entire plumage. At first they lowly skirt the edge 
of the mountains : finding, however, nothing in the shape 
of breakfast, they rise gradually in the clear sky, until, 
almost out of reach of human eyes, they prosecute their 
search farther afield; one follows the other, rising and 
falling in company, and turning right and left, as does 
their leader. 
All at once, one of their number observes the crowd 
beneath, and immediately lowers its flight a little in 
screw-like circles, sd as to inspect matters a little closer. 
Soon the bird’s sharp eye affords it a clear picture of 
what is going on, and shows the carcase on which they 
would fain feast. The bird now closes its wings, abandons 
itself to the law of gravitation, and falls with a rushing 
sound some hundreds of feet, when it half extends its 
wings, so as to avoid being dashed to pieces, which it 
otherwise would he, falling from such a stupendous 
height; and, while yet some distance from the ground, 
stretches out its legs and alights in a slanting direction. 
The example of the first Vulture is unhesitatingly 
followed by the remainder of its companions. As soon as 
