BLACK VULTURE 



107 



they soon returned as before. As they were often disturbed by 

 the dogs, I ordered the latter home : my voice gave no alarm 

 to the Vultures. As soon as the dogs departed, the Vultures 

 crowded in such numbers, that I counted at one time thirty- 

 seven on and around the carcass, with several within; so that 

 scarcely an inch of it was visible. Sometimes one would come 

 out with a large piece of the entrails, which in a moment was 

 surrounded by several others, who tore it in fragments, and it 

 soon disappeared. They kept up the hissing occasionally. Some 

 of them having their whole legs and heads covered with blood, 

 presented a most savage aspect. Still as the dogs advanced I 

 would order them away, which seemed to gratify the Vultures ; 

 and one would pursue another to within a foot or two of the spot 

 where I was sitting. Sometimes I observed them stretching their 

 necks along the ground, as if to press the food downwards.'^ 



The Carrion-crow is seldom found on the Atlantic, to the 

 northward of Newbern, North Carolina,^ but inhabits the whole 

 continent, to the southward, as far as Cape Horn. Don Ulloa, in 

 noticing the birds of Carthagena, gives an account of a Vulture ; 

 which we shall quote, in order to establish the opinion, advanced 

 in the preceding history, that it is the present species. We shall 

 afterwards subjoin other testimony in confirmation of this opinion. 

 With respect to the marvellous tale of their attacking the cattle in 

 the pastures, it is too improbable to merit a serious refutation. 



It would be too great an undertaking to describe all the 

 extraordinary birds that inhabit this country; but I cannot refrain 

 from noticing that to which they give the name of Gallinazo^ from 

 the resemblance it has to the Turkey-hen. This bird is of the 

 size of a Pea-hen, but its head and neck are something larger. 

 From the crop to the base of the bill it has no feathers ; this space 



* Since writing the above I have been informed by a gentleman who resides at Detroit, on Lake 

 E ie, that the Carrion-crow is common at that place. 



