VULTURES. 279 



etc. Eggs, 2, in our species white mottled 

 with brown. Young, covered with down 

 when hatched, but helpless. Sexes, similar. 



The small figures in circles are silhouettes of the 

 birds as seen in flight to give the proportions of wings 

 and tail. 



272. TURKEY VULTURE. 

 Dark-brown; head, livid red; tail, 

 rounded, fig. 217. America from N. J., the 

 Ohio Valley, and Saskatchewan, southward 

 to Patagonia, casual in N. E. Flight, steady 

 with long, sweeping curves, sailing most 

 of the time without flapping, sometimes at 

 a considerable height where it moves in 

 wide circles. Food, mainly freshly killed 

 animals. Only vocal sound, a harsh hiss. 

 Social, gathering in large flocks, especially 

 to roost at night. 



273. BLACK VULTURE. 



Black, including head; space on wing 

 beneath, showing in flight, white; tail, short 

 and square, fig. 218. N. C. to Fla., north 

 to lower Ohio Valley west to Great-Plains, 

 south to Mex. and into S. A., casual in N. 



