NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 161 



remarkable for its very large size, all its dimensions nearly, if not quite, 

 equaling those of the famed Condor of the Andes {Sarcorhamphus 

 gryp hits''''). This great bird has already become very much reduced 

 in numbers and extinct in localities where it was formerly abundant ; 

 this is doubtless due to the indiscriminate use of poison which is 

 placed on carcasses for the purpose of killing wolves and other obnox- 

 ious animals. Upon these poisoned remains the birds feed and perish. 

 It is at present restricted to the area of the Pacific coast region as 

 far north as the Columbia River in Oregon. South of this it is more 

 common, and especially in the warm valleys of California. Here it is 

 associated with the Turkey Buzzard, and the habits of both species 

 are alike, often feeding together on the same carcass. Like the Turkey 

 Vulture its flight is easy and graceful, sailing majestically with almost 

 motionless wings, in wide circles at great heights, over a large space 

 of territory, in search of food. The eggs are laid on the ground 

 between old logs, in hollow stumps, in recesses or crevices among 

 rocks, with little or no attempt at nest building. One or two eggs are 

 laid, elongate-ovate in shape, and their color is described as plain, pale 

 greenish-blue or grayish-white ; average size 4.50x2.50. 



325. Cathartes aura (Linn.) [454.] 



Turkey Vulture. 



Hab. Nearly all of temperate and tropical America from New Jersey, Ohio Valley, Washington 

 Territory, Saskatchewan region, southward to Patagonia. 



The common Turkey Buzzard inhabits the United States and 

 adjoining British Provinces from the Atlantic to the Pacific, south 

 through Central and most of South America, and is resident north to 

 about 40°. Every farmer knows it to be an industrious scavenger, 

 devouring at all times the putrid or decomposing flesh of carcasses. It 

 is essentially gregarious, not only flying and feeding in company, but 

 resorting to the same spot to roost ; breeding also in communities and 

 sometimes by single pairs ; depositing its eggs on the ground, on 

 rocks, or in hollow logs and stumps, usually in thick woods or in a 

 sycamore grove, in the bend or fork of a stream. The nest is fre- 

 quently built in a tree or in the cavity of a sycamore stump. 



In the vicinity of Tampa, Florida, Mr. Stuart says the eggs of this 

 bird are laid in February and March ; in Indian Territory they are 

 deposited in March, April and May. In Arizona and Colorado it nests 

 in the latter part of April and in May. Mr. Shields states that in the 

 region of Los Angeles, Cal., this bird begins laying about April 15. 

 He observes that although the usual nesting sites are chosen, the 

 favorite place for depositing the eggs is a little depression under a 



12 



