HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES 287 



Their services as scavengers are invaluable. The thought of bury- 

 ing a dead horse or cow never occurs to the southern planter. He 

 simply drags the animal to a more or less retired place and leaves it 

 for the Buzzards, who never fail to do justice to the repast. In some 

 southern towns they make a self-constituted street-cleaning depart- 

 ment, and if their efforts were seconded by a corps of goats, to dispose 

 of the more indigestible materials, they would form an admirable 

 branch of public service. 



After a rain it is a common sight to see Buzzards perching with 

 wings held in spread-eagle fashion as they dry their water-soaked 

 plumage. Frequently they stand on the top of a chimney to take advan- 

 tage of the heat arising with the smoke. Their only note is a low, grunting 

 sound uttered when they are disturbed. Just after sunset Buzzards may 

 be seen sailing to their roosting-place, generally in the upper branches 

 of a dead tree. 



326. Catharista urubu urubu (Vieill.}. BLACK VULTURE. Ads. 

 Head and neck bare, the skin and base of the bill blackish; plumage glossy 

 black; under surface of the wings silvery. L., about 24*00; W., 17'00; T., 

 8-00; B., 2'20. 



Range. Tropical and Lower Austral zones from w. Tex., Kans., 111., 

 Ind., and se. Va. s. through the s. States, Mex., and Cen. Am. to s. S. A.; 

 casual in Ohio, Maine, Que., N. B., and N. S.; rare in the West Indies. 



Washington, casual, Mch., July, Dec. 



Nest, on the ground, under logs, bushes, palmettos, etc. Eggs, 1-3, palo 

 bluish white, generally more or less spotted with distinct and obscure choco- 

 late markings, 2'95 x 2'00. Date, Warrior River Swamp, Ala., Apl. 1; 

 St. Simon's, Ga., Mch. 26. 



This species is more abundant near the seacoast and less common 

 in the interior than the preceding. It is also more often found living 

 in towns or cities. Any one who has visited the vicinity of the market 

 in Charleston, S. C., will testify to its abundance and semi-domestica- 

 tion there. Indeed, the birds have become so tame that when engaged 

 in devouring some savory morsel they are in frequent danger of being 

 trodden under foot. 



Black Vultures are heavier birds than Turkey Buzzards, and when- 

 ever the ownership of food is in question the dispute is invariably settled 

 in the Vulture's favor. Their stretch of wing, however, is not so great, 

 and for this reason their flight is far less easy and graceful than that 

 of the Buzzard. They flap their wings oftener, and this habit, in con- 

 nection with their black heads, grayish primaries, and comparatively 

 short tails, serves to identify them in the field. The only note I have ever 

 heard from them is a low grunt uttered when they are disturbed. 



35. FAMILY BUTEONID^. HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, ETC. (Figs. 46, 50.) 



Omitting the Secretary Bird, Vultures, Ospreys, and Owls, the Order) 

 Raptores has left some four hundred and sixty species of world-wide' 

 distribution, which Ridgway places in the two families ButeonidcB and 



