136 



CHAPTER III. 



lURDS OF PRRV 



Representatives of the order of Raptores are present in every 

 part of the world, and with the feathered race they occupy a 

 position quite similar to the carnivorous animals among the 

 mammalia. All live on an animal diet. "Most of the smaller, 

 or weaker, species, feed much upon insects; others more partic- 

 ularly upon reptiles, and fish; others upon carrion; but the 

 majority prey upon other birds and small mammals, captured 

 in open warfare." — Coues. 



AMERICAN VULTURES. 



In the Western Hemisphere there are eight representatives 

 of the family Cathartidae, and of these but two occur in the 

 Eastern United States. North Carolina, according to Dr. Coues, 

 is about the northern limit at which the Black Vulture, or 

 Cariion Crow, is seen to occur with any degree of regularity. 

 The Turkey Vulture or Turkey Buzzard, as this species is 

 usually denominated, is quite common as far northward as 

 the southeastern section of Pennsylvania, where it is resident, 

 but it, of course, is much more plentiful in the summer season 

 than during the winter. 



These cowardly, ignoble, gluttonous and partly gregarious 

 birds are found in abundance in the jvarmer countries, where, 

 frequently, thej- are protected by law and strong public senti- 

 ment because of their great value as scavengers. Vultures 

 subsist largely on carrion. They often collect in considerable 

 num.bers around the body of a defunct horse, cow, steer or 

 other large sized animal, and gorge themselves until they are 

 scarcely able to fly. When, however, their uncleanly repast is 

 finished, they usually perch on trees, rocks, fences, etc., where 

 they remain in a quiet and sleepy attitude, with wings droop- 

 ing. Frequently if these birds are wounded, or suddenly 

 frightened when feeding, and sometimes when their nests or 

 young are molested, they eject the foetid contents of the crop. 

 Two species of the family occur in Pennsylvania. 



