TRAVELS IN 
150 
feme parlor other, by the Indians, for the ptirpofe 
of routing the game, as alfo by the lightning:) when 
they are feen at a diftance foaring on the wing, ga- 
thering from every quarter, and gradually ap- 
proaching the burnt plains, where they alight upon 
the ground yet fmoking with hot embers: they ga- 
ther up the roafred ferpents, frogs, and lizards, 
filling their facks with them: at this time a perfon 
may fnoot them at pleafure, they not being willing 
to quit the feaft, and indeed feeming to brave all 
danger. 
The other fpecies may very properly be called 
the coped vulture, and is by the inhabitants called 
the carrion crow. As to bulk or weight, he is near- 
ly equal to either of the others before mentioned. 
His wings are not long and fnarp pointed, but broad 
and round at their extremities, having a clumfy ap- 
pearance; the tail is remarkably fhort, which he 
fpreads like a little fan, when on the wing. They 
have a heavy laborious flight, flapping their wings, 
then fail a little and then flap their wings again, 
and fo on as if recovering themfelves when falling. 
The beak is very long and ftraight, until it makes 
a fudden hook at the point, in the manner of the 
other vultures. The whole bird is of a fable or 
mourning colour; the head and neck down to the 
bread: is bare of feathers, and the ikin wrinkled; 
this unfeathered ikin is of a deep livid purple, ap- 
pearing black and thinly fet with fhort black hair. 
He has a ruff or tippet of long foft feathers, like a 
collar, bearing on his bread:, in which he can con- 
ceal his neck and head at pleafure. 
Having agreeably diverted away the intolerable 
heats of fultry noon in fruitful fragrant groves, with 
renewed vigour 1 again refume my fylvan pilgrimage. 
The 
