[66] See Thomas M. Brewer, ([Bibl. No. 79]), Harper's New Monthly Magazine, vol. lxi, p. 666 (1880).
[67] This specimen, which was presented to me by the late Dr. X. C. Scott of Cleveland, measured 6 feet, and showed eight rattles and a button; the skin and skeleton are preserved in the Biological Laboratory of Western Reserve University.
[68] See [Vol. II, p. 55].
[69] Bachman's account of these experiments is interesting: "A coarse painting," he said, was made on canvas, "representing a sheep skinned and cut open. This proved very amusing—no sooner was this picture placed on the ground than the Vultures observed it, alighted near, walked over it, and some of them commenced tugging at the painting. They seemed much disappointed and surprised, and after having satisfied their curiosity, flew away. This experiment was repeated more than fifty times, with the same result. The painting was then placed within two feet of the place where the offal was deposited—they came as usual, walked around it, but in no instance evinced the slightest symptoms of their having scented the offal which was so near them.
"The most offensive portions of the offal were now placed on the earth; these were covered over by a canvass cloth—on this were strewn several pieces of fresh beef. The Vultures came, ate the flesh that was in sight, and although they were standing on a quantity beneath them, and although their bills were frequently within the eighth of an inch of the putrid matter, they did not discover it. We made a small rent in the canvass, and they at once discovered the flesh and began to devour it. We drove them away, replaced the canvass with a piece that was entire; again they commenced eating the flesh exhibited to their view, without discovering the hidden food they were trampling upon.
"As it [the organ of smell] does however exist, (although in an inferior degree,) I am not disposed to deny to birds the power of smell altogether, nor would I wish to advance the opinion that the Vulture does not possess the power of smelling in the slightest degree, (although it has not been discovered by our experiments). All that I contend for is, that he is not assisted by this faculty in procuring his food—that he cannot smell better for instance, than Hawks or Owls, who it is known are indebted altogether to their sight, in discovering their prey."
[70] See [Bibliography, No. 104], and [Vol. II, p. 55]; also Ornithological Biography, vol. ii, p. 46.
[71] See [Bibliography, No. 125], and for the quotation to follow, Samuel N. Rhoads, "George Ord," Cassinia, No. xii (Philadelphia, 1908).
[72] See W. Sells ([Bibl. No. 140]), Proceedings of the Zoölogical Society of London, pt. v, p. 33 (1837).
[73] See [Vol. II, pp. 4] and [23], and [Bibliography, No. 106].