THE BLACK VULTURE. 



505 



a dull black. The head and part of tlic neck are destitute 

 of feathers, wrinkled, and sprinkled with a few hlack hairs. 

 The throat is of a yellowish tint. 



It flies high, sweeping through the air with a l)eautifully 

 easy motion, and is generally found in the neighbourhood of 

 fresh water. 



The black vultures are gregarious, brought together appar 



1. THE BLACK VULTUKK. 2. THE KING VULTURE. 



ently by the pleasure they seem to have in society rather 

 than l)y the attraction of a common prey. Darwin describes 

 seeing flocks of then) on a flne day at a great height, cacli 

 bird wheeling round and round without closing its ^\'ings, iuid 

 performing the most gi-aceful evolutions. 



