BLACK VULTURE, OR CARRION CROW. 
19 
they not unfrequently remain the whole day on the roost ; but when it is 
fine, they reach the city every morning by the first g’limpse of day. 
The flight of this species, although laboured, is powerful and protracted. 
Before rising from the ground they are obliged to take several leaps, which 
they do in an awkward sidelong manner. Their flight is continued by 
flappings, repeated eight or ten times, alternating with sailings of from thirty 
to fifty yards.' The wings are disposed at right angles to the body, and the 
feet protrude beyond the tail, so as to be easily seen. In calm weather they 
may be heard passing over you at the height of forty or fifty yards, so great 
is the force with which they beat the air. When about to alight, they allow 
their legs to dangle beneath, the better to enable them to alight. 
They feed on all sorts of flesh, fresh or putrid, whether of quadrupeds or 
birds, as well as on fish. I saw a great number of them eating a dead shark 
near the wharf at St. Augustine in East Florida ; and I observed them many 
times devouring young cormorants and herons in the nest, on the keys 
bordering that peninsula. 
The Carrion Crow and Turke)- -Buzzard possess great power of recollection, 
so as to recognise at a great distance a person who has shot at them, and 
even the horse on which he rides. On several occasions I have observed 
that they would fly off at my approach, after I had trapped several, when 
they took no notice of other individuals ; and they avoided my horse in the 
pastures, after I had made use of him to approach and shoot them. 
At the commencement of the love season, which is about the beginning of 
February, the gesticulation and parade of the males are extremely ludicrous. 
They first strut somewhat in the manner of the Turkey Cock, then open 
their wings, and, as they approach the female, lower their head, its wrinkled 
skin becoming loosened, so as entirely to cover the bill, and emit a puffing 
sound, which is by no means musical. When these actions have been repeat- 
ed five or six times, and the conjugal compact sealed, the “ happy pair” fly 
off, and remain together until their young come abroad. These birds form 
no nest, and consequently never breed on trees ; the hollow of a prostrate 
log, or the excavation of a bank of earth, suffices for them. They never lay 
more than two eggs, which are deposited on the bare ground ; they are about 
three inches in length, rather pointed at the smaller end, thick in the shell, 
with a pure white ground, marked towards the greater ends with large 
irregular dashes of black and dark brown. Twenty-one days are required 
for hatching them. The male and female sit by turns, and feed each other. 
The young are at first covered with a light cream-coloured down, and have 
an extremely uncouth appearance. They are fed by regurgitation, almost 
in the same manner as pigeons, and are abundantly supplied with food. 
When fledged, which is commonly about the beginning of June, they follow 
