‘236 
BLACK vulture. 
BLACK VULTURE, OR CARRION CROW VULTUR JOTA. 
Plate LXXV. Fig. 2. 
Vultur jota, Gmel. Syst. i. p. 247. — Molina, Hist. Chili, i. p. 185.— Trans. 
— Zalipot, Clavigero, Hist. Mex. i. p. 47. Eng. Trans. — Gallinazo, XJlloa, Voy. 
i. p. 62. Amsterdam Ed. — Vultur atratus, Bartram, p. 289. — Vautour du Bresil, 
PL Enl. 189. — Vultur aura, B. Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 5. — Le vautour urubu, Vieil. 
Ois. de VAm. Sep. i. p. 23, pi. 2 Peale's Museum, No. 13. 
VULTUR JO r^.— B onaparte.* 
Vultur jota, Bonap. Synop. p. 23. — Catliai'tes atratus, North. ZooL ii. p. 6. 
Although an account of tins vulture was published more 
than twenty years ago, by Mr William Bartram, wherein it 
was distinctly specified as a different species from the pre- 
ceding, yet it excites our surprise that the ornithologists should 
have persisted in confounding it with the turkey buzzard ; an 
error which can hardly admit of extenuation, when it is con- 
sidered what a respectable authority they had for a different 
opinion. 
The habits of this species are singular. In the towns and 
villages of the Southern States, particularly Charleston and 
Georgetown, South Carolina, and in Savannah, Georgia, the 
carrion crows may be seen either sauntering about the streets ; 
sunning themselves on the roofs of the houses, and the fences ; 
or, if the weather be cold, cowering around the tops of the 
chimneys, to enjoy the benefit of the heat, which to them is a 
peculiar gratification. They are protected by a law, or usage ; 
and may be said to be completely domesticated, being as com- 
* Mr Swainson, in a note, to the description of this bird in the Northern 
Zoology, remarks, as a reason for changing the name given by Bonaparte — “ We 
have not considered it expedient to apply to this bird the scientific name of Iota, 
given by Molina to a black vulture of Chili, because there is no evidence to prove 
that it is the turkey buzzard of North America.” Neither is there present proof 
that it is not, therefore we retain Bonaparte’s name. — Ed. 
