Turkey Buzzard. 261 



was the patience and orderly behavior that characterized the 

 nearly-grown young, and their sweetness and gentleness of 

 disposition under the most trying circumstances as well, that 

 impressed us as extremely wonderful, and led to the opinion 

 that man-born offspring might here learn a lesson of filial 

 obedience and respect that would greatly redound to the 

 honor and glory of the race. 



When captured, these birds offer no active resistance, but 

 very effectually warn off their aggressor by vomiting up the 

 half-putrid contents of their crop. They will often simulate 

 death at such times. On one occasion an individual having 

 been shot by Dr. Coues was picked up for dead. While 

 being carried to the Doctor's tent, it was perfectly limp. On 

 reaching his quarters, he carelessly threw it upon the ground, 

 and went to work at something else. After a little, upon 

 looking around, he beheld to his great surprise that the bird 

 had changed position, and was furtively glancing around. 

 On going up to it, its eyes instantly closed, its body became 

 relaxed, and it lay perfectly motionless, and apparently life- 

 less. After compressing its chest for several minutes until 

 he fancied life extinct, he dropped the bird and repaired to 

 supper. Upon his return the bird was gone, it evidently 

 having scrambled into the bushes as soon as he had turned 

 his back upon it. 



The young, when first hatched, are covered with a whitish 

 down, and are fed upon half-digested matter which is dis- 

 gorged by their parents. When taken from the nest and 

 kept in captivity until fully grown they become exceedingly 

 tame, and will feed on fresh meat, earthworms, crickets, grass- 

 hoppers, and other large insects, which they apparently relish, 

 and oftentimes will also eat bits of bread, cake and particles 

 of apples or pears which are thrown before them. The 

 benefits which these scavengers render are too well known 

 to need any comment. In the mature state the plumage of 

 the Buzzard is brownish-black, and more or less glossy, the 

 quills being paler on the under surface. The skin of the 



