142 



KLAOK VULTURE. 



('atharisla atrata. 



df:scriptiox. 



'■Adult.— Eiitiv. il-n-i--:. inll black. the quills grayish 

 basally (hoarv w ': i ' unler surface), their shafts pure 



white; bill duf^kN ish or whitish tip; naked skin of 



head and forni,. ■ . ! , ,. . l>ngth 23-27; extent about 54 

 inches."— Riflfu,, w.i.m.i; .N. A. Birds. 



Habitat, s ,; \ aniic and Gulf states, north to North 

 Carolina i : •■ i - i Ohio Valley, west to the great plains, 

 and Sou 11, i ' il' >cico and Central America and most of 



South Am- II. :i S:.MUL;ling north to New York and Maine. 



A specimen of the Black Viiltvire or Carrion Crow, 

 as fhis bird is sometimes called, was taken in Dauphin 

 county in ]892. Stragglers have been observed in 

 Northampton county by Dr. John W. Det wilier and 

 the late Edmund Kicksecker. In relation to the 

 marked difference in the manners of fhe present species 

 and the Turkey Buzzard Mr. Robert Kidgwny' pub 

 lishes the following: 



■■Both in their mode of flight and in theiT movements upon 

 the ground this species differs materially from the Turkey 

 Buzzard. The latter walks steadily while on the ground, and 

 when it movints does so by a single upward spring. The 

 Black Vulture is ill at ease on thfe ground, moves awkwardly, 

 and when it essays to fly upward takes several leaps in a 

 shuffling side-long manner before it can rise. 



■'Their flight is more labored, and is continued by flapping 

 several times, alternated with sailing a limited distance. 

 Their wings are held at right angles, and their feet protrude 

 beyond their tail-feathers. In all these respects the differences 

 between the two birds are very noticeable, and plainly mark 

 the species.^'- (Brewer.) 



The following interesting account of this species is 

 from the pen of Thomas Nuttall :t 



FEEDS ON CARRION NOT POULTRY. 

 "This smaller black and truly gregarious species of vulture. 



*The Ornithology of Illinois. Part I. Robert Ridgwav. Rpring- 

 field, Illinois, 1889. 



t A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and Can- 

 ada, by Thomas Nuttall; The Uand Birds; Cambridge. 1S3l'. 



