j r VULTURE- 



whole plumage is brown black, with a purple and green gl'ofs at- 

 different reflections; but in fome birds, efpecially young ones,, 

 greatly verging to dirty brown. The feathers of the quills and 

 tail, blacker than the reft of the body. The legs are flefh-co- 

 lour ; the claws black. 

 Elacb- This bird is very common in the Wefi Indies, and both North 



and South America. It feeds on dead carcafes, fnakes, &V. like 

 moil of this genus; which makes the fmell of it very offenfive.. 

 Manners. In general, very tame in its wild ftate; but particularly fo, when 

 trained up from being young. This I experienced in two birds 

 fent me from Jamaica. They were fuffered to run wild about 

 the garden, and were alert and hrifk during the fummer months : 

 but impatient of the leaft cold ; for a rainy day, with the flighteft 

 degree of cold, obliged them to creep for ihelter. — I am told,, 

 that in the Wefi Indies they rooft together, of nights, .in vaft 

 numbers, like Rooks in this country. They are reckoned a 

 moft ufeful animal in the places where they refort ; which fe- 

 cures their fafety, added to a penalty for killing one, which is 

 in force in Jamaica, and, I believe, other iflands of the Wefi 

 Indies. — I have been informed, that the one inhabiting North- 

 America exceeds in fize that of the Wefi Indies, by nearly one 

 third. 



Vultur 



