18 BLACK VULTURE. 



yards around it, was black with Carrion Crows ; many sat on the tops of 

 sheds, fences, and houses within sight ; sixty or eighty on^ the opposite 

 side of a small stream. I counted at one time two hundred and thirty- 

 seven, but I believe there were more, besides several in the air over my 

 head, and at a distance. I ventured, cautiously, within thirty yards of 

 the carcass, where three or four dogs, and twenty or thirty Vultures, 

 were busily tearing and devouring. Seeing them take no notice, I ven- 

 tured nearer, till I was within ten yards, and sat down on the bank. 

 Still they paid little attention to me. The dogs being sometimes acci- 

 dentally flapped with the wings of the Vultures, would growl and snap 

 at them, which would occasion them to spring up for a moment, but they 

 immediately gathered in again. I remarked the Vultures frequently 

 attack each other, fighting with their claws or heels, striking like a cock, 

 with open wings, and fixing their claws in each other's head. The females, 

 and I believe the males likewise, made a hissing sound, with open mouth, 

 exactly resembling that produced by thrusting a red-hot poker into 

 water ; and frequently a snufiling, like a dog clearing his nostrils, as I 

 suppose they were theirs. On observing that they did not heed me, I 

 stole so close that my feet were within one yard of the horse's legs, and 

 again sat down. They all slid aloof a few feet ; but seeing me quiet, 

 they soon returned as before. As they were often disturbed by the dogs, 

 I ordered the latter home : my voice gave no alarm to the Vultures. As 

 soon as the dogs departed, the Vultures crowded in such numbers, that 

 I counted at one time thirty-seven on and around the carcass, with seve- 

 ral within ; so that scarcely an inch of it was visible. Sometimes one 

 would come out with a large piece of the entrails which in a mo- 

 ment was surrounded by several others, who tore it in fragments, and it 

 soon disappeared. They kept up the hissing occasionally. Some of 

 them having their whole legs and heads covered with blood, presented a 

 most savage aspect. Still as the dogs advanced I would order them 

 away, which seemed to gratify the Vultures ; and one would pursue 

 another to within a foot or two of the spot where I was sitting. Some- 

 times I observed them stretching their necks along the ground, as if to 

 press the food downwards." 



The Carrion Crow is seldom found, on the Atlantic, to the northwai 1 

 of Newbern, North Carolina, but inhabits, as far as we can ascertain, 

 the whole southern continent. Don Ulloa, in taking notice of the birds 

 of Carthagena, gives an account of a Vulture, which we shall quote, in 

 order to establish the opinion, advanced in the preceding history, that it 

 is the present species. We shall afterwards subjoin other testimony in 

 confirmation of this opinion. With respect to the marvellous tale of 

 their attacking the cattle in the pastures, it is too improbable to merit a 

 serious refutation ; and it is to be regretted that Vieillot should have 



