240 
BLACK VULTURE. 
extraordinary birds that inliabit this country ; but I cannot 
refrain from noticing that to which they give the name of 
Gallinazo^ from the resemblance it has to the turkey-hen. This 
bird is of the size of a pea-hen, but its head and neck are some- 
thing larger. From the crop to the base of the bill it has no 
feathers : this space is surrounded with a wrinkled, glandulous, 
and rough skin, which forms numerous warts, and other similar 
inequalities. This skin is black, as is the plumage of the bird, 
but usually of a brownish black. The bill is well proportioned, 
strong, and a little hooked. These birds are familiar in Car- 
thagena ; the tops of the houses are covered with them ; it is 
they which cleanse the city of all its animal impurities. There 
are few animals killed whereof they do not obtain the offals ; 
and when this food is wanting, they have recourse to other 
filtho Their sense of smelling is so acute, that it enables them 
to trace carrion' at the distance of three or four leagues, which 
they do not abandon until there remains nothing but the 
skeleton. 
The great number of these birds found in such hot climates, 
is an excellent provision of nature ; as, otherwise, the putre- 
faction caused by the constant and excessive heat, would render 
the air insupportable to human life. V/hen first they take 
wing, they fly heavily ; but afterwards, they rise so high as to 
be entirely invisible. On the ground they walk sluggishly. 
Their legs are well proportioned; they have three toes for- 
ward, turning inwards, and one on the inside, inclining a little 
backwards, so that, the feet interfering, they cannot walk with 
any agility, but are obliged to hop : each toe is furnished with 
a long and stout claw. 
« When the gallinazos are deprived of carrion, or food in 
the city, they are driven by hunger among the cattle of the 
pastures. If they see a beast with a sore on the back, they 
alight on it, and attack the part aftected ; and it avails not that 
the poor animal throws itself upon the ground^ and endeavours to 
intimidate them by its bellowing : they do not quit their hold ! 
