BLACK VULTURE. 
29 
The drab colour on the primaries is not visible when the 
wing is closed, consequently the marking on the wing of our 
figure is incorrect. 
In the month of December, 1815, a solitary individual of this 
species made its appearance in Philadelphia. This visiter, as 
may be presumed, occasioned, not a little surprise. It was shot 
with an air rifle, while perched upon the chimney of a large 
house in Chesnut street. This bird was put into my hands for 
examination; and from the appearance of its plumage, T had 
reason to conjecture that it had escaped from confinement. 
From Vieillot’s figure and description of the Black Vulture, 
we must conclude that he had never seen it, either alive, or in 
a recent state, otherwise he would not have committed the 
egregious error, of representing the naked skin of the bill, head 
and neck, of a hlood red, when these parts are of a scurfy, black 
colour, resembling the skin of a dirty negro.* 
From Mr. Ord’s supplementary volume. 
