Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 67 



land, until the intense cold wave of February 13 and 14, 1899, 

 destroyed great numbers of them. During January, 1899, I 

 observed many flocks which contained from ten to twenty-five 

 individuals, but at the pi-esent time the birds have not recovered 

 from the losses they sustained by that great blizzard. 



This species breeds from April until November, and raises per- 

 haps four broods. The nest, which is placed on the ground, 

 or in low trees or bushes, is made of small twigs and weeds, and is 

 large for the size of the bird. The eggs are two in number, pure 

 white, and measure .85X.65. In the autumn, this species gener- 

 ally breeds on the ground in cotton fields, placing its nest at the 

 foot of a stalk. 



On October 19, 1886, I found on Sullivan's Island (which used 

 to be a favorite breeding ground) a nest containing two eggs in 

 an advanced stage of incubation. This late breeding is not ex- 

 ceptional, for on November 3, 1891, I saw a pair of young, just 

 able to fly, which were accompanied by their parents.^ 



The Ground Dove is exceedingly gentle and is seldom molested 

 by people. 



Although Audubon states ^ that "a few of these birds re- 

 main all the year in the vicinity of Charleston, but the greater 

 number retire either to the sea islands or to the Floridas," this 

 statement is certainly an error as this species is non-migratory. 



ORDER RAPTORES: BIRDS OF PREY. 



FAMILY CATHARTIDiE: AMERICAN VULTURES. 



130. Cathartes aura septentrionalis (Wied) . Turkey Vulture. 



This species is a permanent resident. It is not as numerous as 

 the Black Vulture {Catharista uruhu), but both are often seen on 

 the same carcass. If a cow or a horse happens to bog in the salt 

 marshes and cannot extricate itself, the Turkey Buzzard (as it is 

 locally called) frequently picks the eyes out of the unfortunate 

 animal while it is in this helpless condition. I have never seen the 

 Black Vulture attack living animals. 



The flight of the Turkey Buzzard is altogether different from 

 that of the Black Vulture. The former is very graceful in flight 

 and sails against the wind with marvellous ease, rarely flapping its 



» See Auk, IX, 1892, 72. » Birds of America, V, 21. 



