16 
CATHARTES ATRATUS. 
“ How admirable the wisdom of that Providence, 
which hath given to the male alligator an inclination to 
devour its own offspring ; and to the gallinazo a taste 
for the eggs of the female ! Indeed, neither the rivers, 
nor the neighbouring fields, would otherwise be suffi- 
cient to contain the multitudes that are hatched ; for, 
notwithstanding the ravages of both these insatiable 
enemies, one can hardly imagine the numbers that 
remain.”* 
The Abbe Clavigero, in his History of Mexico , has 
dearly indicated the present species, as distinguished 
from the turkey buzzard : — 
“ The business of clearing the fields of Mexico, is 
reserved principally for the zopilots , known in South 
America by the name of gallinazzi ; in other places, by 
that of aure ; and in some places, though very impro- 
perly, by that of ravens . There are two very different 
species of these birds : the one, the zopilot, properly so 
called ; the other called the cozcaquauhtli : they are 
both bigger than the raven. These two species resemble 
each other in their hooked bill and crooked claws, and 
by having upon their head, instead of feathers, a 
wrinkled membrane with some curling hairs. They 
fly so high, that, although they are pretty large, they 
are lost to the sight; and especially before a hail 
storm they will be seen wheeling, in vast numbers, 
under the loftiest clouds, till they entirely disappear. 
They feed upon carrion, which they discover, by tin* 
acuteness of their sight and smell, from the greatest 
height, and descend upon it with a majestic flight, in a 
great spiral course. They are both almost mute. The 
two species are distinguished, however, by their size, 
their colour, their numbers, and some other peculiarities. 
The zopilots, properly so called, have black feathers, 
with a brown head, bill, and feet; they go often in 
flocks, and roost together upon trees. This species is 
very numerous, and is to be found in all the different 
climates ; while, on the contrary, the cozcaquauhtli is 
Liv. iv, chap, ix, p. 172. 
