EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIBBS. 56 



ORDER XIL — RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 



Eggs, variable in form and color, either plain or spotted, 

 placed on the ground, in caves, holes of trees, or other natural 

 cavities, or in trees. 



Family XXXIII. — CATHARTID^. American Vultures. 



Eggs, not exceeding 2, long, elliptical in form, and usually 

 spotted. Nests iisually placed on the ground or near it. 



324. California Vulture, Pseudogryphxis californianns. 

 Eggs, 1 or 2, long, oval, but more pointed at the smaller end, 

 1)ale greenish blue, unspotted ; 2.38 -|- 4.40 to 2,50 -}- 4.50. 

 }3reeds in the Pacific coast region of the United States, from 

 Oregon southvv'ard, and in the interior to Southern Utah. 

 Known by the large size. 



325. Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura. (Type, Plate VII.) 

 Eggs, 1 or 2, elliptical or oval, dii-ty white, or creamy, spotted 

 and blotched, irregularly, often quite coarsely, but sometimes 

 more thickly on the larger end, with reddish brown and nniber ; 

 1.80 + 2.65 to 1.90 + 2.75. Nests usually placed on the 

 ground, oi- often in hollow logs. Breeds throughout the 

 United States from New Jersey, Oliio Valley, and Washington 

 Territory, southward to Patagonia; in Florida in February, 

 farther north a little later. 



326. Black Vulture, Catharista atrata. Eggs, indistin- 

 guishable from those of No. 325. Nests placed on the ground 

 or in hollow logs. Breeds from North Carolina and the 

 Lower Ohio Valley region, southward through Mexico, Central 

 America, the West Indies, and. most of South America ; in 

 the United States in March and April. 



Family XXXIV. — FALCONID^. Falcons, Hawks, 



Eagles, Etc. 

 Eggs, either plain or spotted. Nests, in the majority of cases, 

 placed in trees, composed of sticks and otlier coarse material. 



