BLACK VULTURE. 143 
it attacks no other, but feeds principally upon carcasses and 
reptiles. It is extremely indolent, and will frequently remain 
for a long time almost motionless, with its wings extended, 
sunning itself upon the rocks or the roofs of the houses. When 
in pain, which is the only time that it is known to make any 
noise, it utters a sharp cry like that of a rat; and usually 
disgorges what it has eaten. ‘The flesh of this bird emits a 
fetid smell that is highly offensive. The manner in which it 
builds its nest is perfectly correspondent to its natural indo- 
lence: it carelessly places between rocks, or even upon the 
ground, a few dry leaves or feathers, upon which it lays two 
egos of a dirty white.” * 
The black vulture is twenty-six inches in length, and four 
feet four inches in extent; the bill is two inches and a half 
long, of a dark horn colour as far as near an inch; the re- 
mainder, the head, and a part of the neck, are covered with a 
black, wrinkled, caruncled skin, beset with short black hairs, 
and downy behind; nostril, an oblong slit; irides, reddish 
hazel; the throat is dashed with yellow ochre; the general 
colour of the plumage is of a dull black, except the primaries, 
which are whitish on the inside, and have four of their broad- 
ened edges below of a drab or dark cream colour, extending 
two inches, which is seen only when the wing is unfolded ; 
the shafts of the feathers white on both sides; the rest of the 
wing-feathers dark on both sides ; the wings, when folded, are 
about the length of the tail, the fifth feather being the longest ; 
the secondaries are two inches shorter than the tail, which is 
slightly forked; the exterior feathers, three-quarters of an 
inch longer than the rest ; the legs are limy, three inches and 
a half in length, and, with the feet, are thick and strong ; the 
middle toe is four inches long, side toes, two inches, and con- 
siderably webbed, inner toe rather the shortest; claws strong, 
but not sharp, like those of the Falco genus; middle claw, 
three-quarters of an inch long ; the stomach is not lined with 
* Hist. Chili, Am. Trans. i. p. 185. 
