376 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



Pacific, and somewhat northward ; abundant in more southern 

 portions ; resident as far north as New Jerse}'. Nests on the 

 ground, or near it, in hollow stumps and logs, generally breed- 

 ing in communities ; eggs commonly two, creamy ^Yhite, 

 blotched and speckled, 2fX 1|-" Coues. The Carrion " Crow," 

 or Black Vulture, has the wings paler beneath, and the hind- 

 head feathered ; " head dusky ; bill and feet graj'ish-j-ellow. 

 * * * ; tail square. Smaller than aura, in linear dimensions, 

 but a heavier bird ; length about 2 feet ; wing 1^ ; tail |. The 

 difference in size and shape between this species and aura is 

 strikingl}' displaj'ed when the birds are flying together, as con- 

 stantly occurs in the Southern States ; there is also a radical 

 difference in the mode of flight, this species never sailing for 

 an}' distance without flapping the wings. Nesting the same : 

 eggs similar, but larger, or at any rate more elongate ; 3^ X 2. 

 Chiefly South Atlantic and Gulf States, there very numerous, 

 far outnumbering the tuike}' buzzard, and semi-domesticated 

 in the towns ; N. regularly to North Carolina, thence strag- 

 gling even to Massachusetts and Maine ;" etc. (Coues.) 



As the vultures are of wholly accidental occurrence in New 

 England, and as their more characteristic habits are well 

 known, I sjiall not here present their biographies, which I 

 should be obliged to borrow from other writers. Some remarks 

 as to their prominent peculiarities have already been presented 

 among those on the birds of prey, at the beginning of this 

 chapter. 



