44 BIRDS OF PREY. 



often like grim and boding spectres in the suburbs, and 

 on the roofs and chimneys of the houses, around the 

 cities of the Southern states. A few brave the winters 

 of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey ; but the 

 greater part migrate south at the approach of cold 

 weather. 



The Turkey-Buzzard has not been known to breed 

 north of New Jersey in any of the Atlantic states. Here 

 they seek out the swampy solitudes, and, without forming 

 any nest, deposit fwm 2 tp 4 eggs in the stump of a 

 hollow tree or log, on the mere fragments of rotten wood 

 with which it is ordinarily strewed. Occasionally, in 

 the Southern states, they have been known to make 

 choice of the ruined chimney of a deserted house for 

 this purpose. The eggs are larger than those of a Tur- 

 key, of a yellowish white, irregularly blotched with dark 

 brown and blackish spots, chiefly at the larger end. 

 The male often attends while the female is sitting ; and, 

 if not materially disturbed, they will continue to occupy 

 the same place for several years in succession. 



The young are covered with a whitish down, and, in 

 common with the habit of the old birds, will often eject, 

 upon those who happen to molest them, the filthy con- 

 tents of their stomachs. 



In the cities of the south they appear to be somewhat 

 gregarious ; and, as if aware of the protection afforded 

 them, present themselves often in the streets, and partic- 

 ularly near the shambles. They also watch the empty- 

 ing of the scavengers' carts in the suburbs, where, in com- 

 pany with the still more domestic Black Vultures, they 

 search out their favorite morsels amidst dust, filth, and 

 rubbish of all descriptions. Bits of cheese, of meat, 

 fish, or any thing sufficiently foetid, and easy of digestion, 

 is greedily sought after, and eagerly eyed. When the 



