THE TURKEY-BUZZARD. t5 



in which they roost, frequently to the number of five or six 

 tofi^ether, and then at night climbing up and noosing them. 

 They are such heavy sleepers that this is not a difficult 

 task. Lieutenant Maw saw the Condor's quill used as a 

 pen in the Cordillera. 



THE TURKEY-BUZZARD. (Vultur aura.) 



There are many species of Vultures distributed over the 

 various parts of the world, chiefly in the warmer countries, 

 where they are considered very serviceable in consuming 

 the carcasses of dead animals, which would otherwise taint 

 the air. The King Vulture, found in South America and 

 Mexico, and the California Vulture, found on our western 

 coast, are among the American species; but of these the 

 most common, and therefore the most interesting, is the 

 Turkey-Buzzard, which abounds in our Southern States and 

 in the West Indies, where they are commonly protected for 

 their services as scavengers of carrion. In the winter they 

 generally seek out warmth and shelter, hovering often like 

 grim and boding spectres in the suburbs, and on the roofa 

 and chimneys of the houses around the cities of the South 

 ern States. 



Mr. Nuttall describes the Turkey-Buzzard as follows : 

 The Turkey Vulture is about two and a half feet IB 



