276 
BLACK VULTURE. 
attend the crocodiles and destroy the eggs which the females of 
those dreadful amphibious animals leave in the sand, to be hatch- 
ed by the heat of the sun. The destruction of such a bird ought 
to be prohibited under severe penalties.”* 
“Theyom (Vultur jota),” says the abbe Molina, “resembles 
much the aura, a species of vulture, of which there is perhaps but 
one variety. It is distinguished, however, by the beak, which is 
grey with a black point. Notwithstanding the size of this bird, 
which is nearly that of the Turkey, and its strong and crooked 
talons, it attacks no other, but feeds principally upon carcasses and 
reptiles. It is extremely indolent and will frequently remain for 
a long time almost motionless, with its wings extended, sunning 
itself upon the rocks, or the roofs of the houses. When in pain, 
which is the only time that it is known to make any noise, it utters 
a sharp cry like that of a rat ; and usually disgorges what it has 
eaten. The flesh of this bird emits a fetid smell that is highly 
offensive. The manner in which it builds its nest is perfectly cor- 
respondent to its natural indolence ; it carelessly places between 
rocks, or even upon the ground, a few dry leaves or feathers, upon 
which it lays two eggs of a dirty white.”-]- 
The Black Vulture is twenty-six inches in length, and four 
feet eleven inches in extent j the bill is two inches and a half 
long, of a pale horn colour as far as near an inch, the remainder, 
with the head, and wrinkled skin of the neck, a dirty scurfy black ; 
tongue similar to that of the Turkey-buzzard ; nostril an oblong 
slit ; irides dark reddish hazel ; ears sublunate ; the throat is dash- 
ed with yellow ochre in some specimens ; neck feathers below the 
caruncled skin much inflated, and very thick j the general colour 
of the plumage is a dull black, except the primaries, which are 
whitish on the inside, and have four of their broadened edges 
* Clavigero’s Mexico, translated by Cullen, vol. i, p. 47, London. 
t Hist. Chili, Am. trans. i, p. 185. 
