The gallinaso, or black vulture (Cathartes atratus), acts the part of a
scavenger, and as such is of great use throughout the whole centre of
South America, as also in the northern continent. Disgusting as are its
habits and appearance, it is carefully protected, on account of the
service it renders to mankind.
It may easily be distinguished from the turkey-buzzard, which it greatly
resembles, by the shape of the feathers round its neck, which descend
from the back of the head towards the throat in a sloping direction;
whereas those of the turkey-buzzard form a ring round the throat. Its
general colour is a dull black. The head and part of the neck are
destitute of feathers, wrinkled, and sprinkled with a few black hairs.
The throat is of a yellowish tint.
It flies high, sweeping through the air with a beautifully easy motion,
and is generally found in the neighbourhood of fresh-water.
The black vultures are gregarious, brought together apparently by the
pleasure they seem to have in society rather than by the attraction of a
common prey. Darwin describes seeing flocks of them on a fine day at a
great height, each bird wheeling round and round without closing its
wings, and performing the most graceful evolutions.