106 BLACK VULTURE. 



sailing alternately. The whole plumage is of a sable or mourn- 

 ing color.'' ^ 



In one of Mr. Wilson's journals I find an interesting detail of 

 the greedy and disgusting habits of this species ; and shall give 

 the passage entire, in the same unadorned manner in which it is 

 written. 



"February 21, 1809. Went out to Hampsteadt this fore- 

 noon. A horse had dropped down in the street, in convulsions ; 

 and dying it was dragged out to Hampstead and skinned. The 

 ground for a hundred 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 run. 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 ven- 

 tured 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 ventured nearer, till I 

 was within ten yards, and sat down on the bank. Still they paid 

 little attention to me. The dogs being sometimes accidentally 

 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 others 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 snuffling, 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, 



* MS. in the possession of the editor. 



f Near Charleston, South Carolina. 



