( 2 .) 
The King of the Vultures, 
T HIS Bird is about the Bignefs of a Hen-Turkey. I believe it is fomething lefs 
than the greater Sort of Vultures ; nor has it fuch large Wings in Proportion. 
The Bill is pretty thick and ftrong, ftraight for a little way, then bends into a Hook, 
and over-hangs the lower Mandible; it is red at the Point, and black in the middle 
Part; the Bafe of the Bill, both upper and lower Mandibles, are covered with a Skin 
of an orange Colour, broad, and pointing to the Crown of the Head, on each Side 
above, in which Spaces are placed the Noftriis, of an oblong Shape: Between the 
Noftriis is aloofe flap of Skin, fcolloped, which falls indifferently on either Side of the 
Bill, when the Bird moves its Head. The Iris of the Eye is of a bright, pearly 
Whitenefs; round the Eye, is an indifferent broad fpace of Scarlet Skin; the Head and 
Neck are cover’d with bare Skin; the Crown of a dirty, Flefhr-colour, toward the Bill, 
and Scarlet in the hinder Part, behind which is a little Tuft of black Hairs: From this 
Tuft proceeds, on each Side, and parts the Head from the Neck, a fort of Stay of 
wrinkled Skin, of a brownifh Colour, with a little blue and red in its hinder Part: 
The Sides of the Head are of a black or dirty Colour, with Spots of brownifh Purple 
behind the Angles of the Mouth; the Sides of the Neck are red, which gradually 
becomes yellow in its fore Part; there runs a dirty yellow Lift down the hind Part of 
the Neck; and at the bottom of the Neck, a Ruff of loofe, foft, afh-colour’d Feathers, 
quite round, in which, by Contraction, it can hide its whole Neck and Sides of the 
Head; the Breaft, Belly, Thighs, and covert Feathers under the Tail are White, or a 
little inclining to Cream-colour; the back and upper Part of the Wings is of a light, 
redifh brown, inclining to Buff-colour; the Rump and upper covert Feathers of the 
Tail are White; the Quill-feathers of the Wings, black; fome of the middle-rnoft 
Quills have their Shafts edged with white; the Row of Coverts next above.the Quills, 
is black, with light, brown edges; the Tail is wholly black; tho’ Mr. Albin makes 
it black only at the End; the Legs and Feet are of a dirty, white Colour; the forward 
Toes are joined a little way by a Membranee; the Claws are black, not fo great nor 
crooked as in Eagles. 
This Bird I drew at Sir Hans Sloane s, where it lived fome Years. I have feen three 
or four of them; but could difeover no fuch Craw of bare Skin, as Albin has figured. 
The People who made a Shew of this Bird in London, told me it was brought from the 
Eajl Indies ; tho’ I believe it rather to come from the Wejl. I have feen an old Dutfh 
Print of this Bird, very incorrect, intitled, Rex JVarwouwarum , ex India Occidentali. 
Mr. Perry, a great Dealer in foreign Birds and Beafts, has affured me thefe Birds are 
brought only from America. Albin fuppofes it to be like the Brajilian Vulture , called 
JJrubu , Willoughby , p. 68. tho’ it differs widely from that, which is no other than the 
Turkey Buzard, deferibed in Catesby s Hiftory of Carolina. Had Mr, Albin been 
tolerably correct in his Figure of this Bird., I fhould not have publifhed a fecond 
Draught. 
The 
