United States or Malaysia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
We turned back through the city, and walked along watching the Zopilotes great turkey-buzzards with their bald heads and foul dingy-black plumage. They were sitting in compact rows on parapets of houses and churches, and seemed specially to affect the cross of the cathedral, where they perched, two on each arm, and some on the top.
In midafternoon I passed a second village, as somnolent as the belly-gorged zopilotes that half-jumped, half-flew sluggishly out of the way as I advanced. Here was a bit of fairly flat and shaded going, with another precarious hammock-bridge, then an endless woods with occasional sharp stony descents to some brawling but most welcome stream, with stepping-stones or without.
Por cierte! the zopilotes out yonder are over something; but, as they're not moving on, most likely it's the horse." Again the Horned Lizard gives a grunt, expressing satisfaction; after which the two scramble back down the cliff, to seek that repose which fighting and forced marching make necessary to man, be he savage or civilised.
An intention which, despite their apparent stolidity in contradiction to the ideas of the closet naturalist and his theory of animal instinct the vultures clearly comprehend. About the behaviour of the birds the marauders take no note. They are used to seeing turkey-buzzards around better known to them by the name "zopilotes."
There, too, are outlined the wings of birds large birds with sable plumage and red naked necks, whose species both know well. They are zopilotes the vultures of Mexico. A score of such shadows are flitting over the sage a score of the birds are wheeling in the air above. It is a sight to pain the traveller, even when seen at a distance. Over his own head it may well inspire him with fear.
Great sluggish zopilotes of the horrid vulture family strolled or circled lazily about, seeking the scent of carrion. Long-legged, snow-white herons stood in the marshes.
After a run of ten miles, which was made in less than an hour, the party entered a large ravine or point of the plain that protruded, like a deep bay, into the mountain-like side of the high steppe. As they entered this, a singular spectacle came under their eyes. The ravine, near its bottom, was covered with zopilotes, or black vultures.
Whatever it is, they do not appear to have yet touched it. All keep aloft, none of them alighting on the ground, though at times stooping down, and skimming close to the tops of the sage-bushes with which the plain is thickly beset. These last prevent the huntress from seeing what lies upon the ground; though she knows there must be something to have attracted the concourse of zopilotes.
Before we had ridden out of sight the Eagle's Cliff was black with zopilotes, hundreds clustering upon the pines, and whetting their fetid beaks over their prey, still warm. I could not help being struck with this strange transposition of victims. We forded the stream below, and travelled for some hours in a westerly course over a half-naked ridge.
I don't intend to run the risk o' sturvin' myself; an' as I mayn't find any thin' on the way, I'll jest take one o' these sweet-smellin' chickens along wi' me." He has already re-loaded the rifle; and, once more pointing its muzzle towards the sky, he brings down a second of the zopilotes.
Word Of The Day