when hunting wild turkeys by moonlight, mistaking them for these latter
birds.
In Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Carolina, they prepare to breed
early in the month of February, in common with most of 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 in the choice of a mate, when each male, after many
caresses, leads his partner off on the wing from the group, neither to mix
nor associate with any more, until their offspring are well able to follow
them in the air ; after which, 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
deposite for their two eggs. Deep in the swamps, but always above the
line of overflowing water-mark, a large hollow tree is sought, either standing
or fallen, and the eggs are dropped on the mouldering particles inside,
sometimes immediately near the entrance, at other times as much as
twenty feet within. Both birds alternately incubate, and each feeds the
other, by disgorging the contents of the stomach, or part of them, immediately
before the bird that is sitting. Thirty-two days are required
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 disgorging food considerably digested from their
bills, in the manner of the common pigeons. The down acquires length,
becomes thinner, and of a darker 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 pin feathers, dragging them
almost upon the ground, and 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 made by a strangling cat or fox, swell themselves,
and hop sideways as fast as in their power. The parents, while sitting,
and equally disturbed, act in the same manner; fly only a very short
distance, waiting there the departure of the offender, to resume their duty.
As the young grow larger, the parents simply throw their food before
them ; and, with all their exertions, seldom bring their offspring fat to the
field. Their nests become so fetid, before the final departure of the young
birds, that a person forced to remain there half an hour would be in danger
of suffocation.
I have been frequently told, that the same pair will not abandon their
first nest or place of deposit, unless broken up during incubation. This
would attach to the vulture a constancy of affection that I cannot believe
exists; as I do not think that pairing, in the manner described, is of any
longer duration than the necessitous call of nature for the one season;
and again, were they so inclined, they would never congregate in the
manner they do, but would go in single pairs all their lives like eagles.
Vultures do not possess, in any degree, the power of bearing off their
prey as falcons do, unless it be slender portions of entrails hanging by the
bill. When chased by others from a carcass, it even renders them very
awkward in their flight, and forces them to the earth again almost immediately.
Many persons in Europe believe that Buzzards prefer putrid flesh to
any other. This is a mistake. Any flesh that they can at once tear with
their very powerful bill in pieces, is swallowed, no matter how fresh.
What I have said of their killing and devouring young animals, affords
sufficient proofs of this; but it frequently happens that these birds are
compelled to wait until the hide of their prey will yield to the bill. I have
seen a large dead alligator, surrounded by vultures and carrion crows, of
which nearly the whole of the flesh was so completely decomposed before
these birds could perforate the tough skin of the monster, that, when at
last it took place, their disappointment was apparent, and the matter, in
an almost fluid state, abandoned by the vultures.'"
The above account of my experiments was read on the 16th day of
December 1826, and was what I may call my " maiden speech." Well do
I remember the uneasy feelings which I experienced: the audience was
large, and composed of many of the most distinguished men of that enlightened
country. My paper was a long one ; and it contradicted all former
opinions on the subject under discussion ; yet the cheering appearance
of kindness which every where met my eye, as I occasionally glanced
around, gradually dispelled my uneasiness, and brought me to a state
of confidence. The reading of the paper being at length accomplished,
I was congratulated by the President, as well as by every member present.
Many questions were put to me, all of which I answered as well as