244 
BLACK VULTURE. 
hazel ; the throat is dashed with yellow ochre ; the general 
colour of the plumage is of a dull black, except the primaries, 
which are whitish on the inside, and have four of their broad- 
ened edges below of a drab, or dark cream colour, extending 
two inches, which is seen only when the wing is unfolded ; the 
shafts of the feathers white on both sides ; the rest of the wing 
feathers dark on both sides ; the wings, w^hen folded, are about 
the length of the tail, the fifth feather being the longest ; the 
secondaries are two inches shorter than the tail, which is slightly 
forked ; the exterior feathers, three quarters of an inch longer 
than the rest ; the legs are limy, three inches and a half in 
length, and, with the feet, are thick and strong ; the middle 
toe is four inches long, side toes, two inches, and considerably 
webbed, inner toe rather the shortest ; claws strong, but not 
sharp, like those of the Falco genus ; middle claw, three quar- 
ters of an inch long ; the stomach is not lined with hair, as re- 
ported. When opened, this bird smells strongly of musk. 
Mr Abbot informs me, that the carrion crow builds its nest 
in the large trees of the low wet swamps, to which places they 
retire every evening to roost. “ They frequent,’’ says he, 
that part of the town of Savannah where the hog-butchers 
reside, and walk about the streets, in great numbers, like do- 
mestic fowls. It is diverting to see, when the entrails and 
offals of the hogs are thrown to them, with what greediness 
they scramble for the food, seizing upon it, and pulling one 
against another, until the strongest prevails. The turkey 
buzzard is accused of killing young lambs and pigs, by picking 
out their eyes; but I believe that the carrion crow is not 
guilty of the like practices. The two species do not asso- 
ciate.” 
