ORDER ACCIPITRES. 165 



The King of the Vultures, which the Spaniards of Paraguay 

 call white crow, from the colour which predominates in its 

 plumage, flies away quickly when approached on the ground, 

 or on an isolated tree ; but is easily killed in the woods when 

 some carrion has been left by way of bait. 



We are assured, says M. D'Azara, that it makes its nest 

 in the hollows of trees, and lays but two eggs. We are in- 

 debted, for a complete description of this vulture, to this emi- 

 nent Spanish naturalist. He has described it under the 

 various liveries which it assumes up to the age of four years. 

 The beak is straight for about one-third of its length, then 

 very much curved, and surrounded at its base by a membrane 

 which forms on each side, as far as the eyes, a considerable 

 sinking in, in which are situated the ample apertures of the 

 nostrils ; between them arises a sort of crest, which is neither 

 elongated nor retreating, and which falls indifferently on either 

 side : it is of a soft substance, and its extremity is formed by a 

 remarkable group of warts. On the head is a crown of naked 

 skin as red as blood. A bandelette of very short and black hairs, 

 extends from one eye to the other by the occiput ; below 

 the naked portion of the neck is a veiy handsome sort of 

 frill, some of the plumes of which are directed fonvards, some 

 backwards. It is so ample, that the bird, in draAving itself in, 

 can conceal in it its neck and a part of the head. Behind the 

 eye are thick wrinkles, which unite over the occiput to a fleshy 

 band, projecting, and of an orange colour, which descends 

 from there as far as the collar. These wrinkles conceal the 

 auditory canal, which is very small, and near which other 

 wrinkles join, which extend as far as the beak. Between 

 these wrinkles some down is perceptible, as well as on the 

 rest of the sides of the head. The remiges, and the large upper 

 coverts of the Avings, the tail, a trace on the back, the beak 

 as far as the membrane, and the tarsi, are black. The mem- 

 brane and the fleshy crest of the beak are orange ; the naked 

 skin of the base of the beak is purple ; the edges of the eye- 



