JOHN-CROW VULTURE. 9 



of my friend, I mentioned this statement to my 

 negro servants, both of whom assured me that the 

 fact was indubitable, and well known; and each 

 of them averred that he had witnessed its occurrence. 



The dimensions in the note, p. 1, were those of 

 the largest of two adult males of the ordinary size, 

 which, however, is considerably less than that of 

 continental specimens. The tongue is singularly 

 formed, and may be termed spoon-shaped ; or rather 

 it is a half-tube, curved in its length, having its 

 edges, which are bony, cut into minute and beau- 

 tifully regular teeth, pointing backwards. The 

 skin of the head is naked, except some small scat- 

 tered hairs, and falls on the occiput into ten or 

 twelve transverse wrinkles ; its colour varies in the 

 same individual, being sometimes purple, then in a 

 few minutes bright red ; when dead, it is a dull 

 lake-pink. The feet are scaly, white ; or rather 

 dull reddish, covered more or less with a white 

 scurf; the red hue is most apparent at the upper 

 part of the tarsus ; the claws are horny black. Im- 

 mediately in front of the eye is a series of irre- 

 gular tuberculous excrescences of a dull white, va- 

 rying in extent. 



Like many black birds this Vulture is subject to 

 albinism. There was a pied one, which for a long 

 time had been occasionally seen in company with 

 others over Bluefields and the vicinity. I at length 

 invited him with some flesh, and lying in wait, 

 shot him. The white feathers were promiscuously 

 interspersed, chiefly on the shoulders, breast, upper 

 and under tail-coverts, and wing-quills; some of 



B 5 



