Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/127

CH. VIII.] The next natural curiosity we met with was the zopilote: about fifty or sixty of these birds were standing in state round a dead mule, whilst one, distinguished by a tuft or civic cap upon his head, was perched upon the carcase and contemplating it with an hurried air of dignity and satisfaction: he leered into each morsel, first with one eye and then with the other, as a gentleman surveys a well-loaded table with his quizzing-glass. When I last saw a portion of this extraordinary community, they were taking their siesta, or sleeping after dinner;—they were now in watchful expectation of the moment when they might commence that repast. Don Simon told me that the bird who was playing so conspicuous a part was the one who had had the good fortune to find the mule, and was consequently considered the alcalde, or lord mayor, whilst the others, who had kindly congregated to help him to eat it, were senadores, or common council men. Indeed it looked very like it,—for, after a reverent