BLACK VULTURE. 
15 
afterwards, they rise so high as to be entirely invisible. 
On the ground they walk sluggishly. Their legs are 
well proportioned ; they have three toes forward, turn- 
ing inwards, and one in the inside, inclining a little 
backwards, so that, the feet interfering, they cannot walk 
with any agility, but are obliged to hop : each toe is 
furnished with a long and stout claw. 
“ When the gallinazos are deprived of carrion, or 
food in the city, they are driven by hunger among the 
cattle of the pastures. If they see a beast with a sore 
on the back, they alight on it, and attack the part 
affected ; and it avails not that the poor animal throws 
itself upon the ground , and endeavours to intimidate 
them by its bellowing : they do not quit their hold ! and 
by means of their bill they so soon enlarge the wound, 
that the animal finally becomes their prey.”* 
The account, from the same author, of the beneficial 
effects resulting from the fondness of the vultures for 
the eggs of the alligator, merits attention : — 
“ The gallinazos are the most inveterate enemies of 
the alligators, or rather they are extremely fond of 
their eggs, and employ much stratagem to obtain them. 
During the summer, these birds make it their business 
to watch the female alligators ; for it is in that season 
that they deposit their eggs in the sand of the shores 
of the rivers, which are not then overflowed. The 
gallinazo conceals itself among the branches and leaves 
of a tree, so as to be unperceived by the alligator ; and 
permits the eggs quietly to be laid, not even inter- 
rupting the precautions that she takes to conceal them. 
But she is no sooner under the water, than the gal- 
linazo darts upon the nest ; and, with its bill, claws, 
and wings, uncovers the eggs, and gobbles them down, 
leaving nothing but the shells. This banquet would, 
indeed, richly reward its patience, did not a multitude 
of gallinazos join the fortunate discoverer, and share in 
the spoil. 
* Voyage Historique de L'Amerique Meridionale , par Don 
George Juan et Don Antoine de Ulloa, liv. i, chap, viii, p. 52. 
A Amsterdam et a Leipzig, 1752, 4to. 
