14 
CATHARTES ATRATUS. 
to the northward of Newbern, North Carolina,* hut 
inhabits the whole continent, to the southward, as far 
as Cape Horn. Don Ulloa, in noticing the birds of 
Carthagena, gives an account of a vulture, which we 
shall quote, in order to establish the opinion, advanced 
in the preceding history, that it is the present species. 
We shall afterwards subjoin other testimony in confir- 
mation of this opinion. With respect to the marvellous 
tale of their attacking the cattle in the pastures, it is 
too improbable to merit a serious refutation. 
“ It would be too great an undertaking to describe all 
the extraordinary birds that inhabit this country ; but 
I cannot refrain from noticing that to which they give 
the name of gallinazo , from the resemblance it has to 
the turkeyhen. This bird is of the size of a peahen, 
but its head and neck are something 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 plu- 
mage of the bird, but usually of a brownish black. The 
bill is well proportioned, strong, and a little hooked. 
These birds are familiar in Carthagena ; 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 filth. 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, other- 
wise, the putrefaction caused by the constant and exces- 
sive heat, would render the air insupportable to human 
life. When first they take wing, they fly heavily ; but 
* Since writing the above, I have been informed by a gentleman 
who resides at Detroit, on Lake Erie, that the carrion crow is 
common at that place. 
