THE AMERICAN VULTURES 2037 



American. The turkey vulture, on the other hand, has the widest distribution of 

 any member of the family, ranging over nearly the whole of temperate and tropical 

 America, inclusive of the West Indies. Southward it extends to Patagonia and the 

 Falkland islands, while its northern limits are marked by New York and British 

 Columbia. In the Southern and Middle United States these birds are exceedingly 

 common, and in some of the southern towns and villages, when not molested, they 

 may be seen perambulating the streets, or roosting on the house tops, with perfect un- 

 concern of the passers-by. Captain Bendire writes that ' ' they look their best aloft, 

 as their flight is exceedingly easy and graceful; while the apparent absence of all 

 effort as they sail in stately manner overhead, in ever-changing circles and without 

 any apparent movement of their well-shaped wings, makes them really attractive 

 objects to watch." Like all their kin, they are, however, essentially scavengers, 

 and when on the ground are by no means pleasing creatures. Dr. W. J. Ralph 

 writes that although carrion eaters, they prefer fresh meat to that which is tainted, 

 but that being unable to kill game for themselves, while their weak bills are incap- 

 able of tearing open the skins of large animals, they have seldom an opportunity of 

 exercising their preference. ' ' When they find a dead animal they will not leave it 

 until all (but the bones and other hard parts) has been consumed, and if it be a 

 large one, or if it have a tough skin, they will often remain near it for days, roost- 

 ing at night in the trees near by. After they have eaten and sometimes they 

 will gorge themselves until the food runs out of their mouths when they move 

 they will, if they are not too full to fly, roost in the nearest trees until their meal is 

 partly digested, and then commence eating again. Many times I have seen these 

 birds in company with the black vulture floating down a stream on a dead alligator, 

 cow, or other large animal, crowded so closely together that they could hardly keep 

 their balance, and followed by a number on the wing." In spite of this close 

 crowding, they never seem to fight much when feeding, although one will at times 

 peck and hiss at another; and at times two will tug at a particularlj r tough frag- 

 ment, until it either break or the weaker bird gives up his hold. 



The nesting habits are very similar to those of the black vulture, although, 

 instead of always laying its eggs on the bare ground, the present species will also 

 nest in caverns and crevices of rocks, or in hollow trees, while it has been known 

 to take possession of a deserted heron's nest in a cactus. Generally, the smell of a 

 nest is unbearable, and when disturbed the parent birds have sometimes the habit 

 of disgorging the contents of their stomachs at an intruder, instead of moving. 

 The young, which are covered at first with soft white down, are fed in a similar 

 manner. The eggs are usually two, but may be three in number, and an instance 

 of four young in one nest is recorded. In color the eggs are creamy white, 

 thickly blotched with red and chocolate. At times the nests, if such they can be 

 called, are in companies, but at others singly. The only sound uttered is a kind of 

 hissing wheeze, generally heard only when the birds are disturbed. 



Far larger than either of the other members of the genus is the 



v . California!! vulture (R. calif omianu s) , which, according to Mr. F. A. 



Lucas, may even exceed the condor in expanse of wing. In this bird 



there is no distinct ruff of downy feathers round the neck, while the general color 



