TURKEY VULTURE. 103 
remaining until November. In April we may hear its 
soft, sweet call, co0-0-0, ah-c00-0-0—c00-0-0—c00-0-0, 08 sad 
as the voice of the wind in the pines. 
Although the bird is as beautiful in appearance as it 
ul 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 RAPTORES.) 
AMERICAN VULTURES. (FAMILY CATHARTIDA) 
Tuere are but eight Vultures in the western hemi- 
sphere, and only two of these, the Black and the Turkey 
Vulture, are found in the eastern United States. The 
former is not often seen north of North 
a = 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. 
