46 • BIRDS OF PREY. 



ions as they spread them to the fanning breeze, and be- 

 come abandoned to its accidental sports. In South 

 America, according to Humboldt, they soar even in com- 

 pany with the Condor in his highest flights, rising above 

 the snowy summits of the tropical Andes. 



Mr. Waterton is of opinion that this Vulture is not 

 truly gregarious, arriving at their food from various 

 quarters, and coming singly. It is indeed certain that 

 on all other occasions they keep only in pairs. 



The Turkey Vulture is about 2^ feet in length, and 6 in breadth. 

 Eyes dark or reddish-hazel. The head and neck for about an inch 

 and a half below the ears, furnished with a reddish wrinkled skin, 

 and some tints of blue, sprinkled with short black hairs. From the 

 hind-head to the neck-feathers the space is covered with a black 

 down. The fore-part of the neck is bare to the breast-bone. The 

 plumage of the neck is large and tumid, and, with that of the back and 

 shoulders, nearly black; almost all the rest of the body is of the same 

 color, in parts inclining to brown. 3d primary longest. The wings 

 extend to the end of the tail. The upper plumage is generally glossed 

 with green and bronze, having purplish reflections. Legs feathered 

 to the knees ; the feet somewhat webbed. The bill nearly white, 

 often tipped with bright olive green. Weight from 4^ to 5 pounds. 



BLACK VULTURE, or 'CARRION-CROW.' 



(Cathartes jota, Bonaparte. Vultur joia, Molina. V. atratus. 

 Wilson. Am. Orn. ix. p. 104. pi. 75. f. 2.) 



Spec. Charact. — Black; neck more feathered above than below; 

 wings not extending beyond the tail ; 5th primary longest ; tail 

 a little emarginated ; the nostrils linear-oblong, and the head 

 black. — Young, entirely brown. 



This smaller, black, and truly gregarious species of 

 Vulture, in the United States, appears to be generally 

 confined to the narrowest limits of the Southern states, 



