hissing and gesticulating very much like young pigeons, and putting
their bills to each other, as if expecting to be fed mutually, as their parent
had done.
Two weeks elapsed, black feathers made their appearance, and the down
diminished. I remarked an extraordinary increase of their legs and bill,
and thinking them fit for trial, I closed three sides of the cage with plank,
leaving the front only with bars for them to see through,—had the cage
cleaned, washed, and sanded, to remove any filth attached to it from the
putrid flesh that had been in it, and turned its front immediately from
the course I usually took towards it with food for them.
I approached it often barefooted, and soon perceived that if I did not
accidentally make a noise, the young birds remained in their silent upright
attitudes, until I shewed myself to them by turning to the front of
their prison. I frequently fastened a dead squirrel or rabbit, cut open,
with all the entrails hanging loosely, to a long pole, and in this situation
would put it to the back part of the cage; but no hissing, no movement,
was made; when, on the contrary, I presented the end of the pole thus
covered over the cage, no sooner would it appear beyond the edge, than
my hungry birds would jump against the bars, hiss furiously, and attempt
all in their power to reach the food. This was repeatedly done with fresh
and putrid substances, all very congenial to their taste.
Satisfied within myself, I dropped these trials, but fed the birds until
full grown, and then turned them out into the yard of the kitchen, for
the purpose of picking up whatever substances might be thrown to them.
Their voracity, however, soon caused their death : young pigs were not
safe if within their reach ; and young ducks, turkeys, or chickens, were
such a constant temptation, that the cook, unable to watch them, killed
them both, to put an end to their depredations.
Whilst I had these two young vultures in confinement, an extraordinary
occurrence took place respecting an old bird of the same kind, which
I cannot help relating to you. This bird, sailing over the yard, whilst I
was experimenting with the pole and squirrels, saw the food, and alighted
on the roof of one of the outhouses; then alighted on the ground, walked
directly to the cage, and attempted to reach the food within. I approached
it carefully, and it hopped off a short distance; as I retired, it returned,
when always the appearances of the strongest congratulations would take
place from the young towards this new comer. I directed several young
negroes to drive it gently towards the stable, and to try to make it go in
there. This would not do ; but, after a short time, I helped to drive it
into that part of the gin-house where the cotton seeds are deposited, and
there caught it. I easily discovered that the bird was so emaciated, that
to this state of poverty only I owed my success. I put it in with the
young, who both at once jumped about him, making most extraordinary
gestures of welcome, whilst the old bird, quite discomfited at his confinement,
lashed both with great violence with his bill. Fearing the death of
the young, I took them out, and fed plentifully the old bird ; his appetite
had become so great through fasting, that he ate too much, and died
of suffocation.
I could enumerate many more instances, indicating 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
fed in one place, they never 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 far 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 intersecting
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 to them. If the object discovered
is large, lately dead, and covered with a skin too tough to be eaten
and torn asunder, and affords free scope to their appetites, they remain
about it, and in the neighbourhood. Perched on high dead limbs, in such
conspicuous positions, they are easily seen by other Vultures, who, through