BLACK VULTURE 41 



been given serious consideration. If, for example, anthrax may be 

 spread in this way from the carcass of a horse dead of tliat disease, 

 it may be better economy to burn or bury the body than to leave it 

 to the vultures. 



Dr. Casey A. Wood (1922) relates an experience with black vul- 

 tures in Georgetown, British Guiana, where until 1921 large num- 

 bers of them frequented the city, especially in the region of the 

 slaughterhouses, and were to be seen daily perched on the roofs of 

 the houses. The prejudice among the inliabitants in their favor as 

 scavengers was strong, but it was found that the birds polluted the 

 drinking water, which was largel}^ supplied by roof drainage. It 

 was proved that serious pollution of the drinking water was brought 

 about by the birds' habit of bringing filth to the roofs and also by 

 the loathogenic bacteria in their feces. Analysis of the cistern water 

 of houses protected by wires stretched above the ridge pole to pre- 

 vent roosting showed it to be free from pathogenic bacteria, while 

 cisterns filled from unprotected roofs, especially those known to be 

 patronized by black vultures, were often shown to be infected by 

 morbific germs. Since 1921 the black vultures have been nearly 

 banished from the city by shooting and systematic frightening away. 



Herbert W. Brandt communicates the following about the turkey 

 and black vultures in Kleberg County, Tex., where both are 

 abundant : "It is claimed by Mr. Kleberg that they spread the deadly 

 anthrax to the cattle, and also other cow diseases. He trapped 

 3,500 buzzards on the Laureles Ranch alone during the winter of 

 1918-19, The trap is simply a wire-enclosed yard with some loud- 

 smelling carcasses of cows, hogs, etc., as bait and an entrance that 

 closes behind the bird and keeps it in. A Mexican then enters 

 the trap with a club and kills the birds and burns the bodies." 



In a publication of the Biological Survey (Redington, 1932), 

 it is stated that "the Biological Survey has discouraged the general 

 destruction of turkey buzzards and black vultures. These birds 

 have been accused of being important carriers of livestock diseases, 

 but skilled investigators have shown that the virus of charbon, or 

 anthrax, is destroyed in passing through the digestive tract of the 

 turkey buzzard. There also are on record similar data regarding 

 the virus of hog cholera. Experimental work of the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry has indicated that the transmission of hog cholera 

 on the feet or feathers of birds is by no means so likely to occur as 

 is generally supposed." 



Voice. — The black vulture is a very silent bird. Hissing, grunting, 

 and blowing compose its entire vocabulary, and these sounds are 

 rarely to be heard except when the birds are feeding or fighting. 

 Aretas A. Saunders (1906) describes its voice as consisting of "a 



83561—37 i 



