. 



SPECIES 2. VULTUR JOTJi. 

 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. Meoc. i, p. 47, 

 Eng. trans. Gallinazo, ULLOA, Voy. i, p. 52, Amsterdam ed. 

 Vultur atratus, BARTRAM, p. 289. Vautour du Brteil, PI. 

 Enl. 187. Vultur aura,B. LATH. Ind. Orn. p.\. Le Vautour 

 urubu, VIEILL. Ois. de I 9 Jim. Sept. i, p. 23, pi. 2. PEALE'S 

 Museum, JVo. 13. 



THE habits of both this and the preceding Vulture are sin- 

 gular. In the towns and villages of the southern states, par- 

 ticularly 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 com- 

 mon as the poultry, and equally familiar. The inhabitants, gen- 

 erally, are disgusted with their filthy, voracious habits; but not- 

 withstanding, being viewed as contributive 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 labours are subservient 

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

 ed themselves, they vomit down the chimneys, which must be 

 intolerably disgusting, and must provoke the ill will of those 

 whose hospitality is thus requited. To obviate this evil, the 

 chimney tops of some houses are furnished with rows of spikes; 

 others are capped, or provided with some apparatus, to hinder 

 the birds from alighting upon them. 



