34^ ULLOA's voyage to south AaiEIlICA. 



dible, which clofes with the upper through the whole length ; fo that the two parts 

 are every where perfectly equal, and from their roof narrows infenfibly, till near 

 the top, where it fuddenly becomes incurvated, and terminates in a ftrong and fliarp 

 point. The tongue is formed like a feather, and of a deep red colour, like the 

 whole infide of its mouth. The bill is variegated with all thofe bright colours 

 which adorn the plumage of other birds. At the bafe, and alfo at the convexity, 

 it is generally of a hght yellow, forming a kind of riband half an inch in breadth. 

 The reft is of a fine deep purple, except two ftreaks near the root, of a rich fear- 

 let, an inch diftant from each other. The inward flefhy parts, which touch when 

 the bill is clofed, are furnifhed with teeth, which form the furface of its two fer- 

 rated mandibles. The name of Preacher has been given to this bird, from its 

 cuftom of perching on the top of a tree above his companions, while they are afleep, 

 and making a noife refembling ill-articulated founds, moving his head to the right 

 and left, in order to keep off the birds of prey from feizing on the others. They 

 are eafily rendered fo very tame, as to run about in houfes, and come when called. 

 Their ufual food is fruit ; but the tame eat other things, and in general whatever 

 is given them. 



To defcribe all the other extraordinary birds would engage me in a prolixity of little 

 entertainment or ufe ; but 1 hope a word or two on the Gallinazos will be excufed. 

 This bird i^ about the fize of a pea-hen, but the neck and head fomewhat larger. From 

 the crop to the bafe of the bill, inftead of feathers, it has a wrinkled, glandulous and 

 rough (kin, covered with fmall worts and tubercles. Its feathers are black, which is 

 alfo the colour of its (kin, but ufually with fomething of a brownifli tinft. Its bill is 

 well proportioned, ftrong, and a little crooked. They are fo numerous and tame in 

 the city, that it is not uncommon to fee the ridges of the houfes covered with them. 

 They are alfo very ferviceable ; for they clean the city from all kinds of filth and ordure, 

 greedily devouring any dead animal, and, when thefe are wanting, feek other filth. 

 They have fo quick a fcent, that they will fmell at the diftance of three or four leagues * 

 a dead carcafe, and never leave it till they have entirely reduced it to a fkeleton t. The 

 infinite number of thefe birds found in fuch hot climates is an excellent pro-'.ifion of 

 Nature, as otherwife the putrefaction caufed by the conftant and exceffive heat would 

 render the air infupportable to human life. At firft they fly heavily, but afterwards 

 dart up out of fight. On the ground they hop along with a kind of torpor, though 

 their legs are ftrong and well proportioned. They have three toes forward turning in- 

 wards, and one in the infide, turned a little backwards j fo that, the feet interfering, 

 they cannot walk with any agility, but are obliged to hop or fkip. Each toe has a long 

 and thick claw. 



When the gallinazos find no food in the city, their hunger drives them'^ into the 

 country, among the beafts in the paftures ; and, on feeing any one with a fore on the 

 back, they immediately alight on it, and attack the part affedted. It is in vain for the 

 poor beaft to endeavour to free itfelf from thefe devourers, either by rolling on the 

 ground, or hideous cries ; for they never quit their hold, but with their bills fo widen 

 the wound that the creature foon expires. 



* The author Hiould have faid miles. — A. 



f It is furprifing to fee what numbers of thefe birds gather round the carcafe of a dead whale, which is 

 no uncommon thing on thefe coafts. The carcafe (hall be covered with them ; and yet their number (hall 

 be nothing in comparifon to that hovering about, waiting for their turn, for which they often fight. They 

 are feldom sbove a fortnight in making a (keleton of a large whale. — A. 



There 



