, 



102 STOftlE'S OF BIRD TJFE 



house, where scraps of meat thrown out from the butcher 

 stalls are quickly pounced upon and devoured. Often two 

 or more birds will seize the same morsel and there at once 

 begins a tug of war, accompanied with much hissing and 

 noisy flapping of wings. So accustomed are the inhabi- 

 tants to these ever ready street cleaners, that they do not 

 hesitate to leave exposed any refuse flesh, well knowing 

 that it will soon disappear. The value of these birds as 

 scavengers is appreciated, and everywhere they are pro- 

 tected by law and by the still safer guard of public senti- 

 ment. 



There are two species of these vultures. Although in 

 general appearance their similarity is striking, there is 

 much difference in detail. The one abundant in Charles- 

 ton is the black vulture, often called ' ' carrion crow, ' ' and 

 in some sections is known as the "South Carolina Buz- 

 zard. ' ' Its feathers are black except the shafts of the large 

 wing quills, which are gray. The skin of its bare head is 

 black. 



The other species is the turkey vulture, familiarly known 

 simply as the "turkey buzzard." It is covered with very 

 dark brown feathers. The skin of its head is red, and like 

 the heads of all vultures is destitute of feathers. In flying, 

 the tail appears to be longer than that of the foregoing 

 species. The two vultures have certain characteristics in 



