BLACK VULTURE. 
273 
From the crop to the base of the bill it has no feathers ; this space 
is surrounded with a wrinkled and rough skin, which forms nume- 
rous warts, and other similar inequalities. This skin is black, as is 
the plumage of the bird, but usually of a brownish black. The 
bill is well proportioned, strong, and a little hooked. These birds 
are familiar in Carthagena, the tops of the houses are covered with 
them ; it is they which cleanse the city of all its animal impurities. 
There are few animals killed whereof they do not obtain the offals; 
and when this food is wanting, they have recourse to other filth. 
Their sense of smelling is so acute, that it enables them to trace 
carrion at the distance of three or four leagues ; which they do not 
abandon until there remains nothing but the skeleton. 
The great number of these birds found in such hot climates, 
is an excellent provision of nature ; as otherwise, the putrefaction 
caused by the constant and excessive heat, would render the air 
insupportable to human life. When first they take wing they fly 
heavily ; but afterwards they rise so high as to be entirely invisi- 
ble, On the ground they walk sluggishly. Their legs are well 
proportioned ; they have three toes forward, turning inwards, and 
one in the inside, inclining a little backwards, so that the feet in- 
terfering, they cannot walk with any agility, but are obliged to hop; 
each toe is furnished with a long and stout claw. 
“ When the Gallinazos are deprived of carrion, or food in the 
city, they are driven by hunger among the cattle of the pastures. 
If they see a beast with a sore on the back, they alight on it, and 
attack the part affected ; and it avails not that the poor animal 
throws itself upon the ground, and endeavours to intimidate them 
by its bellowing : they do not quit their hold! and by means of their 
bill they so soon enlarge the wound, that the animal finally be- 
comes their prey.”* 
^ Voyage Historique De L’Amerique Meridionale, par Don George Juan, et Don An- 
toine De Ulloa, liv. I, chap, viii, p. 52. A Amsterdam et a Leipzig, 1752, quarto. 
3 Z 
VOL. IX. 
