BLACK VULTURE. 
11 
ornithologists should have persisted in confounding it 
with the turkey buzzard ; an error which can hardly 
admit of extenuation, when it is considered what a 
respectable authority they had for a different opinion. 
The habits of this species are singular. In the towns 
and villages of the southern states, particularly Charles- 
ton and Georgetown, South Carolina, and in Savannah, 
Georgia, the carrion crows may be seen either saunter- 
ing about the streets ; sunning themselves on the roofs 
of the houses, and the fences; or, if the weather be cold, 
cowering around the tops of the chimneys, to enjoy the 
benefit of the heat, which to them is a peculiar grati- 
fication. They are protected by a law, or usage ; and 
may be said to be completely domesticated, being as 
common as the domestic poultry, and equally familiar. 
The inhabitants generally are disgusted with their filthy, 
voracious habits ; but notwithstanding, being viewed as 
contributive to the removal of the dead animal matter, 
which, if permitted to putrify during the hot season, 
would render the atmosphere impure, they have a respect 
paid them as scavengers, whose labours are subservient 
to the public good. It sometimes happens, that, after 
having gorged themselves, these birds vomit down the 
chimneys, which must be intolerably disgusting, and 
must provoke the ill will of those whose hospitality is 
thus requited. 
The black vultures are indolent, and may be observed 
in companies loitering for hours together in one place. 
They do not associate with the turkey buzzards ; and 
are much darker in their plumage than the latter. 
Their mode of flight also varies from that of the turkey 
buzzard. The black vulture flaps its wings five or six 
times rapidly, then sails with them extended nearly 
horizontally ; the turkey buzzard seldom flaps its wings, 
and when sailing, they form an angle with the body 
upwards. The latter, though found in the vicinity of 
towns, rarely ventures within them, and then always 
appearing cautious of the near approach of any one. 
It is not so impatient of cold as the former, and is 
