TURKEY VULTURE. 103 



remaining until November. In April we may hear its 

 soft, sweet call, coo-o-o, aK-coo-o-o coo-o-o coo-o-o, as sad 

 as the voice of the wind in the pines. 



Although the bird is as beautiful in appearance as it 

 is graceful in flight, it is a surprisingly poor housekeeper. 

 Its platform nest of a few twigs is about as flimsy as any- 

 thing worthy the name can be, and one wonders how 

 even two eggs are kept on it long enough to hatch. In 

 the West the nest is placed on the ground ; in the East, 

 on the lower branch of a tree. 



Like all the members of their family, Doves immerse 

 the bill while drinking, and do not withdraw it until 

 the draught is finished. The young are fed on softened 

 food regurgitated from the parent's crop. 



BIRDS OF PREY. (ORDER RAFTORES.) 



AMERICAN VULTURES. (FAMILY CATHARTIDJE.) 



THERE are but eight Vultures in the western hemi- 

 sphere, and only two of these, the Black and the Turkey 

 Yulture, are found in the eastern United States. The 

 f ormer is not often seen north of North 

 Carolina > but the Turkey Vulture, or 

 Turkey Buzzard, as it is more frequent- 

 ly called, comes each summer as far as Princeton, N. J., 

 and occasionally strays farther north. 



The Turkey Buzzard is one of Nature's scavengers, 

 and, as such, is one of the few birds whose services to 

 mankind are thoroughly appreciated. There are others 

 of equal or even greater value who daily earn their 

 right to the good will which we stupidly and persistently 

 refuse to grant them ; but of the Turkey Buzzard's assist- 

 ance we have frequent convincing proof, and the decree has 

 gone forth that injury to this bird is punishable by fine. 



