48 



also to devour young poultry, and when its locality affords 

 the opportimity, to prey on the nestling young of Cormorants 

 and Herons. It has also been observed in Guiana to feed on 

 lizards and other small reptiles. Mr. Wallace, in his travels 

 in Brazil, states that, on the Eio Negro, when animal food is 

 scarce, the Black Vultiu-es are obliged to eat palm fi-uits in the 

 forest. The Black Vulture is frequently compelled to disgorge 

 the carrion it has swallowed by the Brazilian Caracara, and 

 sometimes also by the Bald Eagle. 



The eggs of this species are two in number, with a dii'ty 

 greenish white ground, variegated with irregular spots of a 

 violet brown, especially towards the larger end. The situations 

 in which this Vulture lays its eggs are very various, frequently 

 in holes of rocks and in crevices of river cliffs sometimes 

 (especially in the tropics), without any nest at all ; in other 

 localities (chiefly in North America), it lays its eggs on the 

 touchwood iaside a hollow tree, whether fallen or still stand- 

 ing ; also frequently imder small bushes in marshes, adjoining 

 salt water lagoons, and sometimes amongst plants of the cactus 

 tribe. In Peru it has been observed to nest on the roofs of 

 churches, on ruins, or on high walls in secluded situations, 

 and in the most southern localities which it inhabits it is said 

 generally to build its nest with thorns and small branches and 

 to place it upon trees of the willow tribe which are found in 

 that district. The eggs of the Black Vulture are incubated by 

 the male and female bird alternately, the sitting bii-d being 

 fed (whilst so occupied) with food disgorged from the crop of 

 its partner. The male bird of this species has been observed 

 at the approach of the breeding season to make his approaches 

 to the female in the strutting manner of a turkey cock, open- 

 ing his wings and lowering his head, the bare skin of which 

 becomes at that period sufficiently relaxed to hang over the 

 bill, — ^these actions he accompanies by the utterance of a sort 

 of puffing sound. This species is also in the habit of uttering 

 a hoarse croak when feeding. Monsieur Ogier de Gambaud, 



