192 birds of ontario. 



Order EAPTOEES. Birds of Prey. 



Suborder SARCORHAMPHI. American Vultures. 



Family CATHARTID^. American Vultures. 



Genus CATHARTES Illiger. 



CATHARTES aura (Linn.). 



137. Turkey Vulture, (^i^o) 



Blackisli-V)rT)Wii ; quills, ashy-gray on their under surface ; head, red ; feet, 

 flesh-colored; bill, white; skin of the head corrugated, sparsely beset with 

 bristle-like feathers ; plumage, commencing in a circle on the neck ; tail, 

 rounded. Length, about 2.3 feet; extent, 6; wing, 2; tail, 1. 



Hak. — Temperate North America, fi-om New Jersey, Ohio Valley, Saskat- 

 chewan region, and Washington Territory' southward to Patagonia. Casual 

 northwai-d on the Atlantic coast to Maine. Breeds generally in communities. 



Nest, on the ground, or in a hollow log or stump. 



Eggs, usually tAvo, creamy -white, spotted and blotched with different shades 

 of brown. 



So far as I am aware, the Turkey Buzzard has been observed in 

 Ontario only in the south-western portion of the Province. 



Mr. Wagstaff, in the letter already quoted, says: "Turkey Buz- 

 zards are frequently seen in Essex sailing around in search of 

 carrion." I once saw it at Baptiste Creek some years ago, but have 

 not heard of its having been seen farther east. Dr. Coues says : 

 " This species has a curious habit of 'playing possum' by simulating 

 death when wounded and captured, the feint being admirably exe- 

 cuted and often long protracted." 



The Turkey Buzzard is more frequently seen to the west of 

 Ontario than to the east of it. A nest was found by Mr. Arnott at 

 Kerwood, Middlesex County, in 1891. 



It is reported as being generally distributed throughout Michigan 

 and Minnesota, and has also been frequently seen in Manitoba. 



Dr. Bell says : " I have shot the Turkey Buzzard on the upper 

 Assiniboine, but have never heard of it near Hudson's Bay. The 

 locality referred to is in about latitude 52°. It had not before been 

 noticed north of Minnesota, while on the eastern part of the con- 

 tinent it is rarely found north of New York, or about latitude 41°." 



It is a rare visitor to the south-west of Ontario, and to the east 

 I have not heard of its havinsr been observed. 



