BLACK VULTURE, OR CARRION CROW. 19 



they not unfrequently remain the whole day on the roost; but when it is 

 fine, they reach the city every morning by the first glimpse of day. 



The flight of this species, although laboured, is powerful and protracted. 

 Before rising from the ground they are obliged to take several leaps, which 

 they do in an awkward sidelong manner. Their flight is continued by 

 flappings, repeated eight or ten times, alternating with sailings of from thirty 

 to fifty 3'ards. The wings are disposed at right angles to the body, and the 

 feet protrude beyond the tail, so as to be easily seen. In calm weather they 

 may be heard passing over you at the height of forty or fifty yards, so great 

 is the force with which they beat the air. When about to alight, they allow 

 their legs to dangle beneath, the better to enable them to alight. 



They feed on all sorts of flesh, fresh or putrid, whether of quadrupeds or 

 birds, as well as on fish. I saw a great number of them eating a dead shark 

 near the wharf at St. Augustine in East Florida; and I observed them many 

 times devouring young cormorants and herons in the nest, on the keys 

 bordering that peninsula. 



The Carrion Crow and Turkey-Buzzard possess great power of recollection, 

 so as to recognise at a great distance a person who has shot at them, and 

 even the horse on which he rides. On several occasions I have observed 

 that they would fly off at my approach, after I had trapped several, when 

 they took no notice of other individuals; and they avoided my horse in the 

 pastures, after I had made use of him to approach and shoot them. 



At the commencement of the love season, which is about the beginning of 

 February, the gesticulation and parade of the males are extremely ludicrous. 

 They first strut somewhat in the manner of the Turkey Cock, then open 

 their wings, and, as they approach the female, lower their head, its wrinkled 

 skin becoming loosened, so as entirely to cover the bill, and emit a puffing 

 sound, which is by no means musical. When these actions have been repeat- 

 ed five or six times, and the conjugal compact sealed, the "happy pair" fly 

 off, and remain together until their young come abroad. These birds form 

 no nest, and consequently never breed on trees; the hollow of a prostrate 

 log, or the excavation of a bank of earth, suffices for them. They never lay 

 more than two eggs, which are deposited on the bare ground; they are about 

 three inches in length, rather pointed at the smaller end, thick in the shell, 

 with a pure white ground, marked towards the greater ends with large ir- 

 regular dashes of black and dark brown. Twenty-one days are required for 

 hatching them. The male and female sit by turns, and feed each other. 

 The young are at first covered with a light cream-coloured down, and have 

 an extremely uncouth appearance. They are fed by regurgitation, almost 

 in the same manner as pigeons, and are abundantly supplied with food. 

 When fledged, which is commonly about the beginning of June, they follow 



