This will easily be understood when it is explained that in these countries the Urubus perform the whole duty of cleansing the public streets from all kinds of filth and garbage, which, under the influence of an elevated temperature, would certainly infect the air, and engender continual epidemics. These birds, officiating as public scavengers, preserve the general health, and are therefore placed under the protection of the laws in spite of their unpleasant aspect and their unclean odour.
"The familiarity and tameness of the Urubus," says Alcide D'Orbigny, "are extreme. At the time of the distributions of meat made to the Indians in the province of Mojos I have known them snatch away the pieces as soon as the men had received them. At one of these periodical distributions at Concepcion de Mojos, an Indian told me beforehand that I should see the most impudent bird possible, which was well known by the inhabitants by having lost a foot. It was not long, in fact, before we saw it come up, and it certainly showed all the qualities that had been attributed to it. I was told," says he, "that it was perfectly aware of the time of the distribution, which took place every fifteen days in each mission. And true enough, for happening to be present the following week at a similar performance at the mission of Magdalena, distant twenty leagues from Concepcion, I heard the Indians cry out, and soon recognised the lame Urubu just arrived. The curés of the two missions informed me that this bird never failed to be present on the fixed days at both places. This fact would seem to indicate a very high degree of instinct in the Urubu, combined with memory."
According as it inhabits country or town, the Urubu passes the night on branches of trees or roofs of houses. As soon as it is light in the morning it proceeds to search for food; and, describing wide circles in the air, explores the neighbourhood. If it perceives a carcass, it pitches on it, and, from the power with which its beak is furnished, soon effects an opening through the hide into the intestines. But its movements have been watched by others, and soon thousands arrive to take part in the putrid banquet. Contests and fights, wrangling and struggling, in which the strongest is always triumphant, then arise. In an incredibly short time the carcass is devoured, and nothing remains but a skeleton, the bones of which are cleaned as thoroughly as if done by an anatomist. The Urubus afterwards perch in the neighbourhood, and with their necks drawn back between their shoulders, and their wings extended, rapidly digest their food. The Urubus, like most of the Vulture family, spread their wings out for hours, although in a state of repose. The cause of this habit is that the attitude permits them to exhale from their bodies a kind of greasy perspiration.
In spite of the services which this bird renders to man, it is still regarded with the greatest repugnance. Nevertheless, D'Orbigny states that he has seen some completely tamed, and that they appeared susceptible of affection. This naturalist also relates that a creole had one of these birds, which he had reared, and that it accompanied its master wherever he went. At one time, its master having fallen ill, the bird became very sad; but finding one day that the window of the sick-room was left open, it flew in, and came close to the invalid, manifesting by its caresses the joy it felt at seeing him again.
The Turkey Buzzard (Vultur aura) is a native of the same hemisphere as the preceding species, but is more addicted to temperate climates: it is met with as far north as the shores of the great chain of lakes. It is the same size as the Urubu, and its habits of life are nearly identical. Like the Urubu, too, it is protected by the laws. In Peru, for instance, any one who kills an Aura is punished by a fine of fifty piastres; in Cuba, the culprit is excommunicated. They are capable of standing a great amount of cold: when snow covers the ground in the State of Illinois they may be seen congregated in great numbers wherever carrion is to be found.
The Common Vulture (Neophron percnopterus, Yarrell) is in the Old World that which the Urubu and the Turkey Buzzard are in the New. It is very common in Greece and Turkey, and especially in Egypt and Arabia. In Constantinople and other Eastern cities it performs the duty of removing all the putrid matter which the carelessness and apathy of the inhabitants allow to remain in the streets. A great amount of respect is consequently paid to these birds; and although the law inflicts no penalty for killing them, they nevertheless enjoy the most perfect security in the midst of the Mussulman population.
These birds were well known to the ancients, who gave them the name of Percnopterus on account of their black wings. The Egyptians classed them among sacred birds, and often represented them on their monuments as religious symbols. Flocks of them are in the habit of following caravans across the desert, always finding something to pick up; and, as they invariably accompany the pilgrims in their journey to Mecca every year, some devout Mussulmen have bequeathed money sufficient to support a certain number of the birds which manifest such fidelity to the faith of Islam.
They are about the size of a Fowl; hence they obtain the name of Pharaoh's Chickens, by which they are designated in Egyptian. Although they do not manifest much inclination for living prey, they will sometimes attack small mammals which are incapable of defence or flight. The Crow is an adversary whose superiority they never fail to acknowledge, and rarely dare to resist.
The Pondicherry Vulture (Vultur ponticerianus), the Indian Vulture (Vultur indicus), and Kolbe's Vulture (Vultur Kolbii), are also deserving of notice; the two former are found principally in Hindostan, the latter in different parts of Africa as well as Java.
The Vultures properly so called (Vultur, Cuv.) have the head and neck bare, the latter being surrounded at its base by a ruff or collar of feathers; the nostrils round or oval; the tarsi bare or feathered on the upper portion; the middle toe very long; the wings pointed, and almost hanging down to the ground. Their faculty of flight, although powerful, is slow and heavy; they take wing with difficulty, and this fact has procured for them their name of Vultur (volatus tardus, slow flight). Preferring putrid meat, they feed but little on flesh in a fresh state, although they do not absolutely refuse it; they consequently seldom attack living animals.