FALCON. 49 



According to Mr. Abbott, this species chooses similar 

 situations for its nest with the Turkey-Buzzard, fixing 

 upon hollow trees in retired swamps. As no particulars, 

 however, are given, this information is merely hearsay. 

 I made frequent inquiries of many individuals in all the 

 Southern states about the nest of this species, but no 

 person could inform me that they had ever seen it. Mo- 

 lini, in his History of Chili, says, that it makes a careless 

 nest of a few dry leaves or feathers, either on the ground, 

 or sheltered by rocks, and lays 2 eggs of a dirty white. 



The Black Vulture is about 26 inches long ; and 4 feet 4 inches in 

 the stretch of the wings. The bill 2^ inches, of a dark brown color 

 for about an inch, the remainder black. The head, and a part of the 

 neck, are covered with a black, wrinkled skin, scattered with papil- 

 lose excrescences, and set with short black hairs, and downy be- 

 hind. Iris reddish-hazel. The general color of the plumage is of a 

 dull black. A dark cream-colored spot is visible on the primaries 

 when the wing is unfolded. The legs whitish grey. The body, 

 when opened, smells strongly of musk. 



2. FALCON. 



(Falco. Linn, and Temminck.) 

 Generic Charact. — With the head covered with feath- 

 ers. The BILL hooked ; and commonly curved from 

 its origin ; provided with a colored cere, more or less 

 hairy at its base ; the lower mandible obliquely round- 

 ed, and both sometimes notched. The nostrils lat- 

 eral, rounded or ovoid, situated in the cere and open. 

 The TARSUS clothed with feathers, or naked, and 

 then scaly ; the toes are 3 before, and 1 behind ; 

 the exterior commonly united at its base to the ad- 

 joining by a membrane. Nails sharp, strongly hook- 

 ed, movable, and retractile. Tail of 12 feathers. 

 5 



