CARRION VULTURE. 
376 
ing twice the quantity, as at other times, with more 
appearance of appetite. 
This species is about the size of a turkey, but va- 
ries in this respect in different parts : the head is 
covered with a naked wrinkled red skin, and is 
warted on the side. The whole of the plumage is 
dusky, dashed with purple and green : the legs are 
of a dirty flesh-colour, and the claws black. 
These birds are common in the hotter parts of 
America, and particularly about Carthagena, where 
they were seen by Ulloa, sitting in numbers on the 
roofs of the houses, or walking sluggishly about the 
streets. They generally keep in large flocks, and 
perch at night on rocks or trees, sitting with their 
wings spread, in order, it is supposed, to purify 
their bodies, which are most offensively fetid. In 
the morning they leave their gloomy retreats, and 
resort to the neighbourhood of the towns, where 
they may be seen soaring in the air at an amazing 
height, in expectation of a putrid banquet, which, 
if beyond the reach of their acute sight, seldom 
escapes their sagacious nostrils. When they smell 
a carcase they collect from all quarters to enjoy the 
prey, and after wheeling about several times in the 
air they gradually descend and proceed to their 
repast. Kolben informs us, that he has often seen 
the skeletons of cows, oxen, and wild beasts, which 
they had devoured. The birds detach the flesh 
from the bones and skin with such dexterity, that 
what is left is a perfect skeleton, covered with the 
skin, without the least derangement of the parts. 
