OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 291 



arc deposited in the midst of bushes beneath high banks, 

 or on the summits of decayed balsam logs. The eggs are 

 laid during the early part of November, either upon the 

 ground, or on the bare surface of a log. The sexes live in 

 pairs during the entire year. In certain localities, that are 

 frequented by a few birds only, paired individuals are not 

 uncommonly noticed. 



The Turkey Buzzards, like their American relatives, are 

 mute. The only sound which they produce is a kind of 

 hiss, which has not been inaptly compared to the seething 

 noise which is emitted by plunging a hot iron in a vessel of 

 water. 



The young are covered at first with a whitish clown, and 

 are fed at first upon half-digested matter which is disgorged 

 by their parents. This matter, together with that of an 

 excrementitious character which is found about the nest, 

 renders the latter exceedingly offensive. 



When captured, these birds offer no active resistance, but 

 very effectually warn off* their agressor, by vomiting up the 

 half-putrid contents of their crop. When being killed, they 

 are perfectly passive, and quite apathetic. Dr. Cones affirms 

 that these birds will often simulate death when captured. 

 On one occasion, an individual being shot, was picked up 

 for dead. While being carried to his tent, it was perfectly 

 limp. Reaching his quarters, he carelessly threw it upon 

 the ground, and went to work at something else. After a 

 brief spell, he looked around and beheld to his surprise that 

 the bird had changed position, and was furtively glancing 

 around. On going up to it, its eyes instantly closed, its body 

 became relaxed, and it lay perfectly motionless, and appar- 

 ently lifeless. After compressing its chest for several min- 

 utes, until he fancied life extinct, he dropped the bird, and 

 repaired to supper. On returning, the bird was gone, it 

 evidently having scrambled into the bushes as soon as he 

 had turned his back upon it. We have been aware of its 

 capacity to simulate death for several years. Having had 



