Turkey Vulture. 281 



fifteen field mice, two little birds, and a young rabbit. 

 Last year I made the same experiment, with similar re- 

 sults, one meal consisting of twelve small birds, one lark, 

 three moles, and one hedgehog. In one month the five 

 baby hawks rid the world, by actual count, of 420 rats 

 and mice, 200 mole crickets, and 158 lizards." ("Birds of 

 Ontario," by Thomas Mcllwraith.) 



TUEKEY VULTUEE. 1 



In the vulturine group of rapacious birds, the turkey 

 vulture, or turkey buzzard, is the most common in this 

 latitude, and indeed it is the only species of the family seen 

 in central and northern Illinois. It is seen oftenest while 

 careening in its strong flight, examining the subjacent 

 fields and woods for its accustomed prey, and hence its 

 characteristics can not be observed in detail by the watcher 

 below. Frequentl}^, however, its voracity in gorging it- 

 self with the flesh of some decaying carcass overcomes its 

 ordinary caution in our region, and it admits a near ap- 

 proach, especially when it is in a field or meadov^ adjoin- 

 ing a road along which the observer is passing. At such 

 times its plumage of the upper parts, which at a distance 

 exhibits a deep black hue, appears to be burnished with a 

 strong violet luster, and on the lower back there are seen 

 deep greenish reflections. The head of the creature, be- 

 yond examination while the bird is wheeling overhead in 

 changing circles, possesses characteristics somewhat re- 

 pulsive, and yet interesting in their illustrations of the 

 wonderful fact of adaptation to special habits of life. Like 

 other birds that feed on putrid flesh and often bury the 

 head in the cavities of carcasses, it has the head and neck 

 unfeathered, and the livid crimson of the naked skin pre- 

 sents a strange contrast to the pure white bill and the 

 dark plumage of the body. 



The turkey vulture has an extensive range, it being 

 found in nearly all temperate and tropical North America. 

 Its northward limits extend to southern New England 

 and Ontario, and the States bordering the Great Lakes. 

 The southern borders of its habitat are in Chili and ad- 



