habit, know the meaning of such stoppages, and join the first flock, going
also directly, and affording further evidence to those persons who are satisfied
with appearance only. In this manner I have seen several hundreds
of Vultures and Carrion Crows assembled near a dead ox at the dusk
of evening, that had only two or three about it in the morning; when
some of the later comers had probably travelled hundreds of miles searching
diligently themselves 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 from time to
time 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
animosity that a disappointed hungry stomach can excite. They are seen
jumping off the carcass, reattacking 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 breathing. No doubt remains on my mind, that the great
outward dimensions of these nostrils were allotted them for that especial
and necessary purpose.
The animal is soon reduced to a mere skeleton, no portion of it being
now too hard to be torn apart and swallowed, so that nothing is left but
the bare bones. Soon all these bloody feeders are seen standing gorged,
and scarcely able 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 ;—
whenever 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 was abandoned to them until their wants
were supplied.
The repast finished, each bird gradually rises to the highest branches
of the nearest trees, and remains there until the full digestion of all the
food they have swallowed is completed; from time to time opening their
wings to the breeze, or to the sun, either to cool or to warm themselves,
The traveller may then pass under them unnoticed ; or, if regarded, a
mere sham of flying off is made. The bird slowly recloses its wings,
looks at the person as he .passes, and remains there until hunger again
urges him onwards. This takes often times more than a day, when gradually,
and very often singly, each vulture is seen to depart.
They now rise to an immense height ; cutting, with great elegance
and ease, many circles through the air ; now and then gently closing their
wings, they launch themselves obliquely, with great swiftness, for several
hundred yards, check and resume their portly movements, ascending
until, like specks in the distance, they are seen altogether to leave that
neighbourhood, to seek elsewhere the required means of subsistence.
Having heard it said, no doubt with the desire of proving that Buzzards
smell their prey, that these birds usually fly against the breeze, I
may state that, in my opinion, this action is simply used, because it is
easier for birds to sustain themselves on the wing, encountering a moderate
portion of wind, than when flying before it ; but I have so often witnessed
these birds bearing away under the influence of a strong breeze, as
if enjoying it, that I consider either case as a mere incident connected
with their pleasures or their wants.
Here, my dear Sir, let me relate one of those facts, curious in itself,
and attributed to mere instinct, but which I cannot admit under that
appellation, and which, in my opinion, so borders on reason, that, were I
to call it by that name, I hope you will not look on my judgment as
erroneous, without your further investigating the subject in a more
general point of view.
During one of those heavy gusts that so often take place in Louisiana,
in the early part of summer, I saw a flùck of these birds, which had undoubtedly
discovered that the current of air that was tearing all over
them, was a mere sheet, raise themselves obliquely against it, with great
force, slide through its impetuous current, and reassume above it, their
elegant movements. The power given to them by nature of discerning
the approaching death of a wounded animal, is truly remarkable. They
will watch each individual thus assailed by misfortune, and follow it with
keen perseverance, until the loss of life has rendered it their prey. A
poor old emaciated horse or ox, a deer mired on the margin of the lake,
where the timid animal has resorted to escape flies and musquitoes, so
fatiguing in summer, is seen in distress with exultation by the Buzzard.
He immediately alights; and, if the animal does not extricate itself, waits