592 THE TURKEY BUZZARD. 



accustomed haunts, and believe that they were all gathered, 

 even from the Atlas, to feed on Russian horses." [Natural 

 History of the Bible) This eminent naturalist further 

 adds concerning the Vultures: "Their enormous capacity 

 for food, combined with the power of long abstinence, is a 

 wonderful provision of creative wisdom for carrion feeders, 

 whose supply is so uncertain, while the necessity for the 

 immediate removal of offensive matter is so urgent." Our 

 Turkey Buzzard extends its northern habitat to the south 

 of Lake Erie and corresponding latitudes. It is a rather 

 frequent straggler in Southern New England, and Pro- 

 fessor Charles Linden has recently seen it near Buffalo, N. Y. 

 The Southern Middle and the Southern States are the chosen 

 habitat of this species. There it resides in great num- 

 bers. 



As to the nidification of this species, Mr. Maynard says : 

 " Nests, placed on the tops of stumps, on logs, on ruined 

 buildings, in hollow trees, or on the ground; but little or no 

 material is used. Eggs, one or two in number, varying from 

 elliptical to oval in form, dirty white or creamy in color, 

 spotted and blotched irregularly, but sometimes more thickly 

 on the large end, with reddish-brown and umber. Dimen- 

 sions, from 1.80X2.65 to L90X2.75." 



Female, 27.25 long, and 75.00 in extent; male, 26.75 

 long, and 67.00 in extent; the sexes are similar, being 

 dark-brown throughout, with a bluish gloss or irides- 

 cence, the feathers of the wings being edged with lighter; 

 the head is unfeathered, after the manner of the Vul- 

 tures, the red skin being corrugated and beset with a few 

 bristly feathers ; feet, flesh-colored ; bill, white. In size 

 and form, and somewhat in color, this carrion-eater bears 

 no small resemblance to our Turkey. The nestlings make 

 their first appearance in a dirty white down. 



