2:38 
BLACK VULTURE. 
they are called carrion crows. They flock together, and feed 
upon carrion, but do not mix with the turkey buzzard ( Vidtur 
aura). Their wings are broad, and round at their extremities. 
Their tail, which they spread like a fan when on the wing, is 
remarkably short. They have a heavy, laborious flight, flap- 
ping their wings, and sailing alternately. The whole plumage 
is of a sable, or mourning colour.’^ * 
In one of Mr Wilson’s journals, I find an interesting detail 
of the greedy and disgusting habits of this species ; and shall 
give the passage entire, in the same unadorned manner in 
which it is written. 
February 21, 1809. — Went out to Hampstead f this fore- 
noon. A horse had dropped down in the street, in convul- 
sions ; and dying, it was dragged out to Hampstead, and 
skinned. The ground, for a hundred yards around it, was 
black with carrion crows ; many sat on the tops of sheds, fences, 
and houses within sight ; sixty or eighty on the opposite side 
of a small run. I counted at one time two hundred and thirty- 
seven, but I believe there were more, besides several in the 
air over my head, and at a distance. I ventured cautiously 
within thirty yards of the carcass, where three or four dogs, 
and twenty or thirty vultures, were busily tearing and devour- 
ing. Seeing them take no notice, I ventured nearer, till I 
was within ten yards, and sat down on the bank. Still they 
paid little attention to me. The dogs being sometimes acci- 
dentally flapped with the wings of the vultures, would growl 
and snap at them, which would occasion them to spring up for 
a moment, but they immediately gathered in again. I remark- 
ed the vultures frequently attack each other, fighting with 
their claws or heels, striking like a cock, with open wings, and 
fixing their claws in each other’s head. The females, and, I 
believe, the males likewise, made a hissing sound, with open 
mouth, exactly resembling that produced by thrusting a red hot 
* MS. in the possession of Mr Ord. 
f Near Charleston, South Carolina. 
