16 
CATHARTES ATRATUS. 
“ How admirable the wisdom of that Providence* 
which hath ^ven to the male alligator an inclination W 
devour its own offspring; and to the gallinazo a tasw 
for the eggs of tlie female ! Indeed, neither the vive^ 
nor the neighbouring fields, n ould otherwise be sn®” 
cient to contain the multitudes that are hatched ; fo'”’ 
notwithstanding the ravages of both these insatiabP 
enemies, one can hardly imagine the numbers tba 
remain.” * 
The Abbe Clavigero, in his History of Mexico, h^ 
clearly indicated the jiresent species, as distinguished 
from the turkey buzzard: — 
“ The business of clearing the fields of Mexico, '■ 
reserved principally for the zopilots, known in 
America by the name of yoUinazzi ; in other places, W 
tliat of nure; and in some places, though very impt*’' 
perly, by that of ravens. There are two very differed 
species of these birds : the one, the zopilot, properly ^ 
called ; the other called the cozcarprauhtli : they 
both bigger than the raven. These two species reseinbl 
each other in tlieir hooked bill and crooked claws, aO^ 
by having upon their head, instead of feathers, ‘ 
wrinkled membrane with some ciu-ling hairs. Thcj 
fly so high, that, although they are pretty large, the.’ 
ai-c lost to the sight; and especially before a bid 
storm they will be seen wheeling, in vast number^ 
under the loftiest clouds, till they entirely disappc^^ 
They feed upon carrion, u bich they discover, by tb^ 
acuteness of their sight and smell, from the great<^ 
height, and descend upon it with a majestic flight, j? ^ 
great spiral course. They arc both almost mute. 
two species are distinguished, however, by their si/J 
their colour, their numbers, and some other peculiarih^ 
The zopilots, ])roperly so called, have bbick feathd ” 
with a brown head, bill, and feet; they go often 
flocks, and roost together upon trees. This species 
very numerous, and is to be found in all the differ'' .. 
climates ; while, on the contrary, the cozcaiiuauhtli 
Liv. iv, chap, ix, p. 172. 
