20 



THE TURKEY BUZZARD. 



morsel. By this mode of proceeding they soon clear away the softer substance, leaving only 

 the bare ribs standing out, in the midst of which the Vulture continues to move about like a 

 bird in a cage. 



Between the Turkey Buzzard and the zopilote there is a certain external resemblance ; but 

 these two birds are quite distinct in their movements as well as in their habits. The Turkey 

 Buzzard does not even walk or lly in tiie same manner as the zopilote. The latter bird, when 

 walking, is very awkward, and hops along in an awkward and lazy manner, while the former 

 moves smoothly forward, even when oppressed with a surfeit of food. In the flight the differ- 

 ence is even more conspicuous: the Turkey Buzzard very seldom flaps its wings, but sails 

 smoothly through the air, its wings being extended almost hoiizontally ; the zopilote, on the 

 contrary, flajjs its wings six or seven times in succession, and then sails on for a few hundi'ed 





•S^s. 



mi mn 





TUKKBY BUZZARD.- CaCAa/te- aura. 



yards with its wings raised at a decided angle with the body. The two species never company 

 with each other, nor is the Turkey Blizzard found so familiarly associated with man and his 

 habitation as its darker relation. 



Tlie nest of the Turkey Buzzard is a very inartistical afl'air, consisting merely of some 

 suitable hollow tree or decayed log, in which there may lie a depression of sufficient depth to 

 contain the eggs. In this simple cradle the female deposits from two to foui- eggs, which are 

 of a dull cream-wliite, blotched with irregular chocolate s]ilashes. which seem to congregate 

 towards the largest end. The young birds are covered with a plentiful supply of white down, 

 and look clean and inviting to the touch. Their motto may, however, he similar to that of the 

 Scotch thistle, "Nemo me impune lacesserit," for at the slightest aggressive touch they will 

 disgorge over the offender the putrid animal substances with which they have been fed, and 

 work sad woe to his hands and garments. May is usually the month in which the young 

 Turkey Buzzards ai-e hatclied. 



The adult Turkey Buzzard is rather a large bird, measuring two feet six inches in length, 

 and six feet ten inches across the expanded wings. The weight is about Ave pounds. The 



