270 
BLACK VULTURE. 
The Black Vultures are indolent, and may be observed, in com- 
panies, loitering for hours together in one place. They are much 
darker in their plumage than the Turkey-buzzard. Their mode of 
flight also varies from that of the latter. The Black Vulture flaps 
its wings five or six times rapidly, then sails with them extended 
nearly horizontally ; the Turkey-buzzard seldom flaps its wings, 
and when sailing, they form an upward angle with the body. The 
latter is not so impatient of cold as the former, and is likewise less 
lazy. The Black Vulture, when walking at leisure upon the ground, 
takes great strides — when hurried, he runs and jumps awkwardly j 
the Turkey-buzzard, though seemingly inactive, moves with an 
even gait. The former, when springing from the ground, will some- 
times make a noise exactly resembling the grunt of a pig. 
I had been informed, previous to my visit to Georgia, by both 
William Bartram, and Mr. John Abbot, that the two species did 
not associate, but I soon discovered that this information was erro- 
neous. I took notice that both of these birds mixed together upon 
the chimney tops, and the roofs of the houses, and sometimes in 
the streets ; they were equally unsuspicious and tame. It would 
appear, however, that there are certain districts which are affected 
by each kind. In the yard of the hotel where I resided, in the 
town of Savannah, I daily observed numbers of Carrion-crows, un- 
accompanied by a single Turkey-buzzard. The latter, unless 
pressed by hunger, will not eat of a carcass until it becomes pu- 
trid ; the former is not so fastidious, but devours animal food with- 
out distinction. Perhaps this may be the reason why the Carrion- 
crows alone frequent the yards where servants are in the habit of 
throwing out animal offals. In the fields, wherever there is a pu- 
trid carcass, there will be seen swarms of Turkey-buzzard^ 
It is said that the Black Vultures sometimes attack young 
pigs, and eat off their ears and tails ; and we have even heard sto- 
ries of their assaulting feeble calves, and picking out their eyes. 
But these instances are rare ; if otherwise, they would not receive 
