16 BLACK VULTURE. 



Israelites were interdicted eating* We presume that this prohibition 

 was religiously observed, so far at least as it related to the whole family 

 of the Vultures, from whose flesh there arises such an unsavory odor, 

 that we question if all the sweetening processes ever invented, could 

 render it palatable to a Jew, Pagan, or Christian. 



Temminck, and some recent ornithologists, have separated our Vul- 

 tures from the genus Vultur, and have classed them under the genus 

 Cathartes of Illiger. It should seem that there is a propriety in this 

 arrangement ; but as Wilson published, in his sixth volume, the cata- 

 logue of his land birds, adopting the genus Vultur, as sanctioned by 

 Latham, we have not thought proper, in this instance, to deviate from 

 his plan.f 



Species II. VULTUR JOTA. 



BLACK VULTURE, or CARRION CROW. 



[Plate LXXV. Fig. 2.] 



Vultur jota, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 247. — Molina, Hist. Chili, i., p. 185, Am. trans. — 

 Zopilot, Clavigero, Hist. Mex. i., p. 47, Eng. trans. — Gallinazo, Ulloa, Voy. i., p. 

 52, Amsterdam ed. — Vultur atratus, Bartram, p. 289. — Vautour du Brisil, PI. 

 Ent. 187. — Vultur aura, B. Lath. Ind. Orn. p. v. — Le Vautour uruhu, Vieill. 

 Ois. de I'Am. Sept. i., p. 23, pi. 2. 



The habits of both this and the preceding Vulture are singular. In 

 the towns and villages of the southern states, particularly Charleston and 

 Georgetown, South Carolina, and in Savannah, Georgia, these birds may 

 be seen either sauntering about the streets ; sunning themselves on the 

 roofs of the houses, and the fences ; or, if the weather be cold, cowering 

 around the tops of the chimneys, to enjoy the benefit of the heat, which 

 to them is a peculiar gratification. They are protected by a law ; and may 

 be said to be completely domesticated, being as common as the poultry, 

 and equally as familiar. The inhabitants, generally, are disgusted with 

 their filthy, voracious habits ; but notwithstanding, being viewed as con- 

 tributive to the removal of dead animal matter, which, if permitted to 

 putrefy during the hot season, would render the atmosphere impure, 

 they have a respect paid them as scavengers, whose labors are sub- 

 servient to the public good. It sometimes happens that, after having 

 gorged themselves, they vomit down the chimneys, which must be intole- 

 rably disgusting, and must provoke the ill will of those whose hospitality 

 is thus requited. To obviate this evil, the chimney tops of some houses 



* Leviticus, xi., 14. Deuteronomy, xiv. 13. 

 f From Mr. Ord's supplementary volume. 



