THE CINEREOUS VULTURE, 
515 
life, and though badly hit they often managed to 
escape us; sometimes one might be seen suddenly to 
close its wings mid-air and drop dead to the earth. 
Those which we winged would decamp as fast as their 
legs could carry them, and when overtaken put them¬ 
selves on their guard, and fight like demons to the 
last, with both beak and claws. Wounded ones throw 
up whatever they may happen to have in their crops 
before flying off. Unwounded birds, even, when kept 
in confinement, will do the same, returning, however, 
like dogs, to their vomit. 
The flight of the Vulture may be called sweeping 
rather than flying. They are obliged to take several 
running jumps from the ground before they can manage 
to get under way, and, as soon as they are once in the 
air, they will often not move a feather for minutes 
together, and yet fly rapidly, and apparently without 
much effort. Their extraordinary powers of flight enable 
them to cover immense distances in a few hours, and 
their sharpness of sight renders it easy for them to see 
any prey that may lie in their district, and that from an 
enormous height. It is the eye, and not the sense of 
smell, as has been thought by some, which enables them 
to find their prey. I have come to this conclusion from 
observations made for months together. When the carcase 
is still fresh they will make their appearance from all 
sides alike, although there is no smell from it. I have 
also seen them assemble from the windward side, as well 
as from other directions, in a gale of wind, though the 
scent could only be carried one way, and when the 
carcase was covered they would fail to discover it, though 
in a state of putrefaction. They are never seen about, 
before 10 a.m., nor after 4 p.m. 
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