Ch.VII. south AMERICA. 57 



ward flelhy parts, which touch when the bill is clofed, 

 are furnifhed with teeth, which form the fnrface of its 

 two ferrated mandibles. The name of preacher has 

 been given to this bird from its cuftom of perching on 

 the top of a tree above his companions, while they are 

 afleep, and making a noife refembling ill-articulated 

 founds, moving his head to the right and left, in order 

 to keep off the birds of prey from feizing on the otliers. 

 They are eafily rendered fo very tame, as to run about 

 in houfes, and come when called. Their ufual food is 

 fruit ; but the tame eat other things, and in general 

 ivhatever is given them. 



To defcribe all the other extraordinary birds would 

 engage me in a prolixity of little entertainment or ufe ; 

 but I hope a word or two on the gallinazos will be 

 excufed. This bird is about the fize of a pea-hen, but 

 the neck and head fomething larger. From the crop 

 to the bafe of the bill, inftead of feathers, it has a 

 wrinkled glandulous and rough fkin, covered with 

 fmall warts and tubercles. Its feathers are black, 

 which is alfo the colour of this fkin, but ufually with 

 fomething of a brownifli tindl. Its bill is well pro- 

 portioned, ftrong, and a little crooked. They are fo 

 numerous and tame in the city, that it is notuncom* 

 mon to fee the ridges of the houfes covered with them. 

 They are alfo very ferviceable, for they clean the city 

 from all kinds of filth and ordure, greedily devouring 

 any dead animal, and, v/hen thefe :are wanting^ feck 

 other filth. They have fo quick a fcent, that they will 

 fmell at the diftance of three or four leagues * a dead 

 earcafe, and never leave it till they have entirely re- 

 duced it to a Ikeleton f. The infinite number of 



thefe 



* The author fliould have faid miles. A. 



f It is furprizing to fee what numbers of thefe birds gather 

 round the earcafe of a dead whale, which is no uncommon thing 

 on thefe coafts. The earcafe (hall be covered with them ; and yet 

 their number ihall be nothing in comparifoh to that hovering 

 >bout, waiting for their turn, for whiqh they ofter; fight. They 



