216 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Occasionally a few straggle into Maine, even occurring in 

 some few numbers near Calais some seasons, according to Mr. 

 Boardman, in former years, but since 1897 Mr. Clark's speci- 

 men seems to be the most recent one recorded. This species 

 is a common scavenger in many southern cities. It is not a 

 "king of the air" soaring with far more difficulty than the 

 Turkey Vulture and frequently flapping its wings. In habits 

 it acts very similarly to the Turkey Vulture. 



Mr. Hoxie has recorded a colony as breeding on Buzzard 

 Island, near Beaufort, North Carolina. He states that about 

 twenty pair nest here, generally placing their eggs on the 

 ground far under the dense tangled plants in a thicket of 

 yucca. The nests are best located by following the winding 

 paths made by the birds through this growth. In other 

 localities the birds also nest on the ground, either in dense 

 thickets or in hollow logs. 



Two eggs in my collection from a nest on the ground among 

 rocky cliffs, Perdinalos River, Texas, March 11, 1893, measure 

 2.90 X 2.06 and 2.94 x 2.04. They are a pale green in color 

 with rather large, sparse scattered markings of chocolate and 

 faint ones of lilac and lavender, and are readily distinguished 

 from any eggs of the. Turkey Vulture. 



Suborder FALCONES. Vultures, Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, 

 Eagles, Kites, Harriers, etc. 



Family FALCONIDyE. Vultures, Falcons, Hawks, 

 Eagles, etc. 



Key to the species of FALCONID^E, 



A. Wing over 20.00. 



1. Tarsus wholly feathered. Golden Eagle. 



2. Only upper part of tarsus feathered. Bald Eagle. 



B. Wing under 20.00. 



1. Breast or other under parts barred. 



