242 
BLACK VULTURE. 
principally for the zopilots, known in South America by the 
name of gallinazzi ; in other places, by that of aure ; and in 
some places, though very improperly, by that of ravens. There 
are two very different species of these birds : the one, the 
zopilot, properly so called ; the other, called the cozcaquauhtli : 
they are both bigger than the raven. These two species re- 
semble each other in their hooked bill and crooked claws, and 
by having^ upon their head, instead of feathers, a wrinkled 
membrane with some curling hairs. They fly so high, that, 
although they are pretty large, they are lost to the sight ; and 
especially before a hail storm they will be seen wheeling, in 
vast numbers, under the loftiest clouds, till they entirely dis- 
appear. They feed upon carrion, which they discover, by the 
acuteness of their sight and smell, from the greatest height, 
and descend upon it with a majestic flight, in a great spiral 
course. They are both almost mute. The two species are 
distinguished, however, by their size, their colour, their num- 
bers, and some other peculiarities. The zopilots, properly so 
called, have black feathers, with a brown head, bill, and feet | 
they go often in flocks, and roost together upon trees. This 
species is very numerous, and is to be found in all the difierent 
climates ; while, on the contrary, the cozcaquauhtli is far from 
numerous, and is peculiar to the warmer climates alone.* The 
latter bird is larger than the zopilot, has a red head and feet, 
with a beak of a deep red colour, except towards its extremity, 
which is white. Its feathers are brown, except upon the neck 
and parts about the breast, which are of a reddish black. The 
wings are of an ash colour upon the inside, and, upon the out- 
side, are variegated with black and tawny. 
“ The cozcaquauhtli is called by the Mexicans king of the 
zopilots ;f and they say, that, when these two species happen 
to meet together about the same carrion, the zopilot never 
begins to eat till the cozcaquauhtli has tasted it. The zopilot 
* This is a mistake. 
f This is the Vultur aura. The bird which now goes by the name of king of 
the zopilots, in New Spain, is the Vultur papa of Linnseus. 
