TURKEY VULTURE. , 101 



following invective against the whole fraternity : In every part 

 of the globe they are voracious, slothful, offensive and hateful, 

 and, like the wolves, are as noxious during their life^ as useless 

 after their death.'^ 



If Kolben's account of the ferocity of his Eagle,^ or Vulture 

 be just, we do not hesitate to maintain that that Vulture is not the 

 Turkey-buzzard, as amongst the whole feathered creation there 

 is none, perhaps, more innoxious than this species ; and that it is 

 beneficial to the inhabitants of our southern continent, even Buf- 

 fon himself, on the authority of Desmarchais, asserts. But we 

 doubt the truth of Kolben's story; and, in this place, must express 

 our regret, that enlightened naturalists should so readily lend an 

 ear to the romances of travellers, who, to excite astonishment, 

 freely give currency to every ridiculous tale, which the designing 

 or the credulous impose upon them. We will add further, that 

 the Turkey -buzzard seldom begins upon a carcass, until invited 

 to the banquet by that odor, which in no ordinary degree renders 

 it an object of delight. 



The Turkey Vulture is two feet and a half in length, and six 

 feet two inches in breadth ; the bill from the corner of the mouth 

 is almost two inches and a half long, of a dark horn color for 

 somewhat more than an inch from the tip, the nostril a remark- 

 ably wide slit or opening through it ; the tongue is greatly con- 

 cave, cartilaginous, and finely serrated on its edges; ears inclining 

 to oval ; eyes dark, in some specimens reddish hazel ; the head 

 and neck for about an inch and a half below the ears, are furnish- 

 ed with a reddish, wrinkled skin, beset with short black hairs, 

 which also covers the bill as far as the anterior angle of the nos= 

 tril, the neck not so much caruncled as that of the Black Vulture; 



^ These blood-tliirsty Eagles we conjecture are Black Vultures, they being in the habit of mining 

 into the bellies of dmd animals to feast upon the contents. With respect to their attacking those that 

 are Iw'mg, as the Vultures of America are not so heroic, it is a fair inference that the same species 

 elsewhere are possessed of a similar disposition. 



VOL. IX. C C 



