CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
MORE TALK ABOUT THE VULTURES.
They conversed about the vultures, as they rode away from the butte.
The naturalist of the party had much to say of these picturesque birds; and the curiosity of Basil and Francois had been excited by the appearance of a species new to them--the king himself.
"With regard to the vultures," observed Lucien, "the study of their natural history has been considerably impeded by the closet-naturalists, and particularly by the Frenchmen--who are fonder than all others of making a parade of science, by the absurd multiplication of genera and species.

This, in the absence of any real knowledge of the habits of the animals, gives them an opportunity of adding something to what has been already said; and leaves the reader under the impression that these learned anatomists know all about the thing; and that is what such gentlemen desire, and nothing more.
"There are not over two dozen species of vultures in the world; and yet the French naturalists make almost as many genera of them, multiplying high-sounding names to such an extent, that the mind of the student is quite bewildered with what would otherwise prove a most simple study.
"All the vultures are so similar in their _physiognomy_ and habits, that they might be treated as one genus.

Indeed, it would not lead to great confusion in ornithological science, if they were generically classed with the eagles--as both kinds have many points of similitude.

The vultures often kill their prey as eagles do; and it is certain that they do _not_ prefer it in a putrid state.

The eagles do not always kill their prey, and many of them eat carrion.