(_one third Nat. Size_)]
[Illustration: VULTURES FEASTING.]
It has always been the custom to speak of the Vultures as most revolting
members of the feathered tribes, whose faculties and powers are on a
par with their disgusting occupation. That, in the order of Nature, to
these birds has been assigned the "scavenger work" is true; nevertheless,
in the perfection of the organisation by which they are adapted to the
discharge of their important duties, they bear comparison with the most
highly-endowed members of the order. They rival the Eagle in their powers
of sight and hearing, although they are far from equalling that bird in
intelligence. Their disposition is violent but cowardly, and, moreover,
exhibits so much stupidity as to prevent their exercising even an
ordinary amount of cunning. Indolent they are not, though they frequently
linger for hours on the same spot with dishevelled plumage and drooping
wings; but, this period of inanition over, they prove themselves capable
of walking well upon the ground, and exhibit great command of wing and
power of flight whilst skimming lightly and easily, if not rapidly,
through the realms of air. All the divisions of our earth, with the
exception of New Holland, afford a home to one or other of the various
members of this extensive group; the greater number, however, belong to
the Eastern Hemisphere. They are as often found on burning and barren
plains as on the pinnacles of lofty mountains, from which they soar to a
height unattainable by almost any other bird. Such species as frequent
highland regions are the _most_ stationary in their habits, although to
none of them is that word strictly applicable, their strength of wing
enabling them to sweep with ease over the whole face of the country
they inhabit. Every town of Africa, Asia, and South America, is visited
by a constant succession of these winged scavengers, who clear away a
mass of refuse that would otherwise engender pestilence; while other
species confine their attention to keeping the plains and fields clear
from carcases that would taint the air with death. In India, according
to Professor Behn, it is no uncommon thing to see a Vulture perched upon
a corpse floating down the river Ganges, endeavouring, with outspread
wings, to steer it to the neighbouring bank, there to be devoured.
Occasionally, should the pangs of hunger become very keen, these birds
have been known to attack sick, but still living animals; they prefer the
dead carcases of quadrupeds to any other food, but will also eat reptiles
or even fish, and we have seen them engaged in demolishing the remains of
a crocodile. We are told that they are gregarious, and often fly together
in flocks to seek for carrion, wheeling in large intersecting circles
over the country, and thus obtaining a view of its whole surface; twenty
birds will, in this manner, easily survey an area of as many miles. Some
fly at a great height, while others keep near the ground, so that every
spot is thoroughly inspected; when one of the party perceives a dead
animal, it wheels round so as to announce the discovery to its nearest
companions, who, followed by others from a greater distance, hasten to
share the feast; all, even the most remote, steering in a straight line
for the desired spot--to which it was formerly erroneously supposed they
were directed by the extreme acuteness of their sense of smell. When the
skin of the deceased animal is too tough to be rent asunder, the Vultures
linger around it, or on the neighbouring trees, where they are joined by
others of their kind, all eager to share in the banquet; from time to
time they examine the carcase, testing its state with feet and claws,
and as soon as it has attained the requisite degree of putridity, fall
eagerly to work, the strongest driving off the weaker, who retaliate with
all the rage of disappointed hunger, hissing and combating for portions
already partially swallowed, and burying their nostrils in the flesh,
although every minute compelled to desist in order to clear them from the
moist filth which chokes them and stops their breathing. At length by
continuing these vigorous attacks, the carcase is soon demolished, and
nothing remains but the bare skeleton.
When satiated with the disgusting repast, they usually retire to
some quiet spot, there to repose until the process of digestion is
accomplished. Many hours are usually required for this purpose, after
which they go down to the water to drink and take a bath, the latter
being eminently necessary to creatures that generally rise from their
repast covered with blood and filth of every description. After bathing
they again seek repose for some hours, either lying down upon the sand,
or standing with wings outstretched in such a manner as to allow the
sun to warm them; but if disturbed during these _siestas_, it is not
uncommon for the Vulture to disgorge its food, previous to seeking safety
in flight. Trees or rocks are usually selected as resting-places for the
night. Recent experiments have fully proved that the many tales told
respecting the distance at which the Vulture can detect carrion are mere
fables; they certainly possess the sense of smell, but by no means to
the extraordinary degree formerly imagined. These birds breed in the
spring time of their native lands, and build their eyries either upon
rocks or on the bare ground. The eggs, one or two in number, are round,
coarse-grained, and of a yellowish or grey tint, marked with spots or
streaks of various patterns. In some species, if not in all, both parents
assist in the work of incubation. When hatched the young are usually
covered with a thick down, and are so extremely helpless that they are
fed with carrion that has been more than half-digested in the crops of
the parents. At a later period they exhibit a voracity almost exceeding
that which distinguishes them when full grown. Many months elapse before
the nestlings are capable of providing for themselves, and during all
that time they are tended and instructed with great affection by both
father and mother, whose united efforts are often scarcely sufficient to
satisfy the cravings of their ravenous offspring.