BLACK VULTURE. 21 



The Black Vultures are indolent, and may be observed, in 

 companies, loitering for hours together in one place. They are 

 much darker in their plumage than the Turkey-buzzard. Their 

 mode of flight also varies from that of -the latter. The Black 

 Vulture flaps its wings five or six times rapidly, then sails with 

 them extended nearly horizontally; the Turkey-buzzard seldom 

 flaps its wings, and when sailing, they form an upward angle 

 with the body. The latter is not so impatient of cold as the for- 

 mer, and is likewise less lazy. The Black Vulture, when walk- 

 ing at leisure upon the ground, takes great strides when hur- 

 ried, he runs and jumps awkwardly; the Turkey-buzzard, 

 though seemingly inactive, moves with an even gait. The for- 

 mer, when springing from the ground, will sometimes make a 

 noise exactly resembling the grunt of a pig. 



I had been informed, previously to my visit to Georgia, by 

 both William Bartram, and Mr. John Abbot, that the two spe- 

 cies did not associate; but I soon discovered that this informa- 

 tion was erroneous. I took notice that both of these birds mixed 

 together upon the chimney tops^ and the roofs of the houses, and 

 sometimes in the streets; they were equally unsuspicious and 

 tame. It would appear, however, that there are certain districts 

 which are affected by each kind. In the yard of the hotel where 

 I resided, in the town of Savannah, I daily observed numbers 

 of Carrion-crows, unaccompanied by a single Turkey-buzzard. 

 The latter, unless pressed by hunger, will not eat of a carcass 

 until it becomes putrid; the former is not so fastidious, but de- 

 vours animal food without distinction. Perhaps this may be the 

 reason why the Carrion-crows alone frequent the yards, where 

 servants are in the habit of throwing out animal offals. In the 

 fields, wherever there is a putrid carcass, there will be seen 

 swarms of Turkey-buzzards. 



It is said that the Black Vultures sometimes attack young 

 pigs, and eat off their ears and tails; and we have even heard 

 stories of their assaulting feeble calves, and picking out their 

 eyes. But these instances are rare; if otherwise, they would not 

 receive that countenance or protection, which is so universally 



