VULTURES. 



191 



perience with them in Cuba, thoy are difllcult birds to observe unless 

 one can find some tree on the fullen fruits of whicli they are feeding. 



The Kiddy (^rAii. 1")ove (;U.?.1. Oiotri/ijon ninntcnn) is n West Indian 

 and (Y'Htnil AiiKTioan sjn'cics, wlTu'h liiis hi-fu onoe reoordcd t'roiii Kcv Wost 

 (Atkins. Auk, vi, Iss'.t, p. lUii)- 't l>i'ars a tri'iiiTal rosenil)huicc to the pre- 

 ct'ding, but the hack is more rutuus and tho bcllv is ik't-ji oivani-hutl. 



The Bi,rE-iiEAi>Ki) QrAii. Doyk {S2,i. Stnnni'iiiis ci/nnocp/iiiiii), a Vuhnn 

 species, is of accidental occurrcuco in the Florida Keys. The l)ack is olive- 

 brown, the crown and sides of the throat arc deep grayish blue, tliroat black, 

 line beneath tlie eye white. 



ORDER RAPTORES. BIRDS OF PREY. 



Family Cathartid^. American Vultures. 



A New World family of eiirht species, of which three an; Xorth 

 American. Within their range Vultures are found wherever there is 

 food. Far above the earth on firm witig they sail in broad circles, and 

 from this outlook in the sky descend to feast upon the stricken deer 

 in the forest or the cur lying in the gutters of a thoroughfare. p]xcept 

 during the nesting season, they are generally found in flocks, which 

 each night return to a regularly frequented roost. When alarmed, 

 they utter low, grunting sounds, but at other times are voiceless. 



325. Cadiartes aura (Liiui.). Tiukev Vilti-ue. (See Fig. 32.) 

 Ad. — Head and neck naked, the skin and base of the tiill hri<//it ird ; plum- 

 age glossy black, eclgcd with grayish brown. //«. — Similar, but the head 

 co%-crud with grayish-brown furlike feathers. L., about 3()t>(); W., •_''.!(K); 

 T., llMiO; B., '1-iO. 



RaiKji'. — Temperate North America, from New .Tcrsey soutlnviird to Pata- 

 gonia. Of more or less regular occiu'rcncc in New Jersey as far north aa 

 Princeton in the interior and Sandy Hook on the coast. 



Washington, abundant P. R. Sing Sing, A. V. 



A'tftt, in hollow stumps or logs, or on the ground beneath bushes or ])al- 

 mcttos. /:V/f/s, one to three, dull white, generally s|iiitted and blotelied with 

 distinct and obscure chocolate nuu'king, but sometimes plain or but slightly 

 spotted, 'l-^fi X 200. 



Doubtless one of the first things th.-'t attract the attention of a 

 stranger in our Southern States is the Turkey Ihi/zard. indeed, (hero 

 are few moments between sunrise and sunset when these birds are 

 not in sight. On outstretcluv',, imujovable wings they soar overhead 

 in gracefid circles, perfect pictures of "repose in motion." Without 

 once flap|)ing their broad pinions, they sail in spirals up the sky until 

 they are hidden by the storm-clouds they have purposely avoided. 



