112 



BLACK VULTURE. 



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 color of the plumage is of a dull 

 black, except the primaries, which are whitish on the inside, and 

 have four of their broadened edges below of a drab, or dark cream 

 color, 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 slight- 

 ly 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 considerably webbed, inner 

 toe rather the shortest ; claws strong, but not sharp like those of 

 tlie Falco genus^ middle claw three quarters of an inch long ; the 

 stomach is not lined with hair as reported. When opened, this 

 bird smells strongly of musk. 



Mr. Abbot informs me that the Carrion-crow builds its nest 

 in the large trees of the low wet swamps, to which places they re- 

 tire every evening to roost. " They frequent," says he, that 

 part of the town of Savannah where the hog-butchers reside, and 

 walk about the streets, in great numbers, like domestic fowls. It 

 is diverting to see, when the entrails and olFals of the hogs are 

 thrown to them, with what greediness they scramble for the food, 

 seizing upon it and pulling one against another until the strongest 

 prevails. The Turkey-buzzard is accused of killing young lambs 

 and pigs, by picking out their eyes, but I believe that the Carrion- 

 crow is not guilty of the like practices. The two species do not 

 associate." 



