114 



BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



pair breeding in the nest of a Green Heron, which had been deserted by 

 the original possessors. On another occasion, a nest was found built in 

 that of a Crow Blackbird. 



Doves also nest sometimes on the ground. Mr. Frank R. Diffenderffer, 

 associate editor of NeivEra, of Lancaster city, and Prof. H. Justin Eoddy, 

 also of Lancaster county, both inform me they have repeatedly found 

 them breeding 1 on the ground. Doves seldom feed on insects but sub- 

 sist almost exclusively on cereals, small seeds of different plants, and, 

 occasionally, it is said, on various wild berries. The food materials of 

 eleven doves which I have examined are as follows : 



ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. 



SUBORDER SARCORHAMPHI. YULTURES. 



FAMILY CATHARTID-ffi. AMERICAN VULTUKES. 



i 



THE VULTURES. 



These cowardly, ignoble, gluttonous and partly gregarious birds are found in 

 abundance in the warmer countries, where, frequently, they are protected by law, 

 because of their value as scavengers. Vultures subsist largely on carrion. They 

 often collect in considerable numbers 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 uncleanily repast is finished they usually perch on trees, 

 rocks, fences, etc., where they remain in a quiet and sleepy attitude, with the wings 

 drooping. 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 tlue family are mentioned as occurring in Penn- 

 sylvania ; one, the Turkey Buzzard as it is commonly called, is rather numerous in 

 some parts of the state, where it also often is resident. The other species Black 

 Vulture is found here only as a straggler irom the south. 



