92 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. iS-No. 6 



was but slight enlargement at any part, but 

 the region about the nostril was somewhat 

 corrugated. On the right side the imiier- 

 fect mandibles were exceedingly delicate 

 and slender, and more resembled the squab 

 bill than that of an adult bird. The o]ien- 

 ing to the mouth was over five eighths of an 

 inch in length, and could be spread by a 

 little pressure to slightly over one -fourth of 

 an inch, though it may be doubted if the 

 bird could distend it to this width. Nature; 

 which had so oddly formed this bill, had 

 evidently endeavored to make amends for the 

 deformity by giving great mobility to the jxarts. 



It is singular that a bird in this condition 

 should have reached maturity, but it is most 

 remarbable that it should rear young. One 

 point is evident to all ; no species outside 

 of the Pigeon family could receive or furnish 

 nourishment when in this condition. 



Morris Gibhs, M.n. 



Kalamazoo, Michigan. 



A Few Facts about the Turkey 

 Buzzard. 



During the last two months I have been 

 travelling through the Southern Atlantic 

 States ; and being fortunate in having my 

 own private car, I was better able to learn 

 the following facts about the Turkey Buzzard. 



For fear some may think me negligent in 

 not giving the Latin name of this bird, 1 will 

 freely confess that my knowledge of Cssar's 

 language is confined to that gentleman's first 

 three books, and I do not think that the 

 Turkey Buzzard is mentioned therein. 



The Buzzard is justly named the scaven- 

 ger, and it was only a few years ago these 

 birds ridded the Washington market of much 

 of its garbage. 



The first noticeable characteristic is the 

 flight. The wings are seldom flapped, the 

 bird soaring for long intervals with scarcely 

 any exertion. It often seemed as if it woiild 

 fall sideways over on its back as it gracefully 

 swayed one way and then another. As it 

 swayed from siile to side away up in the sky, 



it strongly reminded me of a ship rolling in 

 a heavy swell. Its powers for making head- 

 way in a wind are not great, and it- is com- 

 pelled to beat one way and then another in 

 order to make any progress. 1 once noticed 

 one on a windy day crossing a small field, 

 and where many other birds would have 

 quickly vanished it took the Buzzard a long 

 time to cover two hundred yards. It is 

 forced to run some distance before being able 

 to rise from the ground. On the ground it is 

 extremely awkward. 



They are easy of approach when gorged, 

 and hesitate to leave their food ; sometimes, 

 however, I ha\e been unable to get near 

 them. I ha\e seen many carcasses from 

 which odors of all degrees emanated, but 

 which had been left untouched by the Buz- 

 zards ; this I cannot account for. When any 

 offal is discovered by one of these birds, it 

 soars high above, sinking gradually ; their 

 eyesight must be powerful, as hundreds will 

 soon see the lucky one and gather around 

 to partake. The eyes of any dead animal 

 seem to be the favorite morsel, as they are 

 always the first to be picked out. 



A'. //. White, Jr. 



Chestnut Hill, Mass. 



Nesting Habits of the Great Horned 

 Owl. 



It appears to be generally believed by 

 ornithologists and oologists that the Great 

 Horned Owl will occupy the same nest for a 

 number of years, even after being frequently 

 molested. Although my experience is some- 

 what limited, owing to the scarcity of that 

 specie in this locality, as only five nests have 

 come under my observation, it does not es- 

 tablish the fact to the contrary, and yet it 

 has been my misfortune in every case to find 

 it otherwise. 



My first was an open nest in a large beech 

 tree, and contained three young Owls when 

 found. They were left in the nest to mature 

 unmolested, with the hopes of collecting a 

 set of eggs there the following sea.son. The 



