ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



663 



YOUNG TURKEY VULTURES. 

 Bred in Morris County, New Jersey. 



known in Boston and ilscwlitrc tliat a zooloj^ical 

 l)ark, or zoological garden, i.s a public institu- 

 tion of large size and more or less dignity; but 

 a "zoo" is a .small, cheap and usually smelly af- 

 fair, with little scientific standing, or none at 

 all, and is the identical kind of an affair that the 

 good people of Boston assuredly do not wish to 

 see developed in their midst. W. T. H. 



BREEDING OF TURKEY VULTURES. 

 MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 



THE gradual but steady intrusion of a num- 

 ber of species of austral birds into the avi- 

 fauna of more northern districts, is a phe- 

 nomenon that is greatly interesting American 

 ornithologists at the present time. The car- 

 dinal and the mockingbird are no longer rare 

 stragglers in the vicinity of New York; the 

 Carolina wren and the tufted titmouse have 

 been recorded in the note-book of many an en- 

 thusiastic observer. Previous to 1909, there 

 were but two records of the occurrence of the 

 Florida gallinule at Ithaca, X. Y., but in that 

 year no less than three pairs of these birds nest- 

 ed near the lake.* 



nVi-iglit and .\lleii. The Auk, Vol. XXVIII, Nu. 1, 



Since so many of the smaller birds ai)pe;ir to 

 be extending their summer habitats, it is not re- 

 markable that some of the larger forms should 

 do likewise. Because of its large size and con- 

 spicuous sailing, the turkey vulture could not 

 long escape notice, and it must now be added to 

 the list of summer visitors near New York. 



The mention of the turkey vulture always 

 brings to mind a warm, sunny climate. The 

 birds have for years very rarely come north of 

 southern New Jersey. During the past few 

 vears, however, turkey vultures have increased 

 in the northern portion of that state. At Mot- 

 ristown and Bernardsvillc, they were very com- 

 mon in the summer of 1909- Perha])s the most 

 interesting fact concerning the northern exten- 

 sion of the range of this species, is the record- 

 ing of the breeding of the turkey vulture in 

 INIorris County, New Jersey, at a point midway 

 between Boonton and Butler, on the estate of 

 Mr. ^lorris Kinney, who has kindly furnished 

 the following data: 



The nest was discovered about June first, an 

 old fox den, high up on a rocky cliff, having 

 been jjresscd into service. The nest proper was 

 at the end of a rather lengthy passage and lit- 

 tle could be seen of it. It was found, however, 

 to contain two young birds, very recently 

 hatched. They were covered with pure white 



