770 Iii'U'oiiT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



County, since 1889. Previous to that date they were seldom seen. 

 The fall of 1894 they were quite common, and in the fall of 1895, at 

 times in September, October and November, large flocks were ob- 

 served. Both autumns there were many dead hogs in that vicinity, 

 and the Black Vultures fed upon them. Mr. Robert Ridgway informs 

 me of its breeding in Knox and Gibson counties, and I have reported 

 an instance of its breeding four miles west of Brookville, in the valley 

 of the West Fork of the Whitewater River, in May, 1889, in a hollow 

 sycamore stub, about twenty feet high. The two eggs were placed upon 

 the ground inside (Bendire, L. H. N. A. Birds, I, p. 167). They usu- 

 ally breed upon the ground, under bushes, logs, or sometimes entirely 

 exposed. The eggs are usually two. Both sexes assist in incubation, 

 which takes about thirty days. Probably but one brood is raised a 

 season. They are generally known to our people by the name "Carrion 

 Crow." It will be interesting to note whether they further extend 

 their range as the years go by. The Black Vulture may be distin- 

 guished, by a careful observer, on account of its heavier body, square, 

 short tail, which gives it a chopped off appearance, black head, and sil- 

 very grayish primaries. In some of the southern cities these Vultures 

 are very tame, in fact, are semi-domesticated, but in Vera Cruz, Mex- 

 ico, they may be said to be the sanitary police. They clean the streets 

 and all public places of offal, and their value to the health of the people 

 is very great. They are so tame that when engaged in feeding in the 

 streets they grudgingly make way for the passer-by. 



SUBORDER FALCONES. FALCONS, HAWKS, BUZZARDS, EAGLES, 



KITES, ETC. 



XXVI. FAMILY FALCONID^E. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, 



KITES, ETC. 



a 1 . Outer toe reversible; claws all same length, narrowed and rounded on the un- 

 der side. PANDION. 79 

 a 2 . Outer toe not reversible; claws graduated from largest (hind toe) to smallest 



(outer toe). 



b l . Nostril small, circular, with a conspicuous bony tubercle; cutting edge of 



upper mandible with a strong tooth, separated from hooked tip of bill by a 



distinct notch. Subfamily FALCONING. FALCO. 78 



6 2 . Nostril not circular, nor with an inner bony tubercle. Subfamily ACCTPI- 



TRIN.E. 



