18 
CATIIARTES ATRATUS. 
extremely indolent, and will frequently remain, tor * 
long' time, almost motionless, with its wings extended; 
sunning itself upon the rocks, or the roofs of the houses- 
When in paiTi, wliieli is the only time that it is kuo>yi> 
to make any noise, it utters a sharp cry like that ot j* 
rat; and usually disgorges what it has eaten. The desl* 
of this bird emits a fetid smell that is highly ott'eusive- 
The manner in which it builds its nest, is perfectly 
correspondent to its natural indolence ; it carelessly 
places between rocks, or even upon the ground, a fe"' 
dry leaves or feathers, upon which it lays two eggs of “ 
dirty white.”* ... j 
The black vulture is twenty-sLx inches in length, an" 
four feet four inches in extent; the hill is two inchc’ 
and a half long, of a dark horn colour as far as near a® 
inch ; the remainder, the head, and a part of the nec»' 
are covered with a black, wrinkled, caruncled skijh 
beset with short black hairs, and downy behind ; nostoh 
an ohloiig slit ; irides, reddish hazel ; the thr<pat is dashc ^ 
with yellow ochre ; the gem'ral colour of the jplumag^’ 
is of a dull black, except the primaries, which ar^ 
whitish on the inside, and have four of their broadenc® 
edges below of a drab, or dark cream colour, extendiu!? 
two inches, which is seen only when the wing 
unfolded; the shafts of the feathers n hite on both sides f 
tlie rest of the wing feathers dark on both sides ; t*!? 
wings, when fobbed, are about the length of the tai« 
the fifth feather being the longest ; the secondaries 
two inches shorter than the tail, which is slightly tbrke®’ 
the exterior feathers three quarters of an inch long®^ 
than the rest; the legs arc limy, three inches and " 
half in length, and, with (he feet, are thick and strong’ 
the middle toe is four inches long, side toes, two inched 
and considerably webbed, inner toe rather the shortest ’ 
claws strong, but not sharp, like those of the 
genus ; middle claw three quarters of an inch long ; 
stomach is not lined with hair, as rejported. W*’*'" 
opened, this bird smells strongly of musk. 
• Hist. Chili, Am. trms. i, p. 185. 
