438 BIBDS — CATHAETID^. 



Northern Ohio. Breeds. Formerly abundant and perhaps in part resi- 

 dent throughout the State. Dr. Kirtland, in 1838, says : 



"The Turkey Bazzard is oommon dating the summer, but djoi not continue in the 

 northern parts of oar State during the winter. It formerly nested in considerable num- 

 bers on the banks of the Big Beaver, near the line of Pennsylvania and Ohio, within 

 the limits of the former State. It numbers have greatly diminished within a 

 years." 



In 1850, speaking of changes in the fauna of the State, and referring 

 to previous years, he observes : 



" Turkey Buzzards and Eavens collected i a numerous li joks about every dead oarcasB, 

 while the Crow was less abundant than it is in more recent times." 



In this vicinity a notable diminution in number has taken place in 

 the last twenty-fiye years. Now they may be seen from March to Decem- 

 ber, but in foriner years they remained, in small numbers, though the 

 winter. Dr. Howard E. Jones informs me that they still remain through 

 the winter at Circleville, only twenty five miles south of Columbus. 



Turkey Buzzards are essentially gregarious, not only flying and feed- 

 ing in company, but resorting to the same spot to roost. These roosts 

 are not uncommon, and generally a sycamore grove in the bend or fork 

 of a stream is chosen. Here they resort about sunset in considerable 

 numbers. 



In general they are very silent birds, their only notes being a hiss of 

 defiance or warning to their neighbors when feeding, or a low, guttural 

 croak of alarm when flying low overhead. 



Dr. Coues' gives the following general account of their movements, and 

 breeding habits : 



"Except when flying, the birds show to Kttle advantage. The color is dull; the 

 form uncomely ; the gait is constrained, and the attitudes are negligent and slothful. 

 They walk or hop indifferently, and sometimes move with a succession of leaps, accel- 

 erated with the wings. When about to take flight from the ground, they stoop for an 

 instant till the breast almost touches, and then, unfolding the wings, give a vigorous 

 spring into the air ; with a few powerful, hurried flaps, they are fairly off. They soon 

 begin their gyrations with set wings, only beating at intervals, when they are forced to 

 rise rapidly away from some obstacles ; and, circling thns, they are shortly in the upper 

 air. 



The Turkey Buzzard breeds sometimes In communities and sometimes by single pairs, 

 depositing its eggs on the ground, on rocks, or in hollow logs and stumps. The situa- 

 tion is generally in thick woods ; and when numbers breed together, the foulness of the 

 resort is beyond description — vegetation may be entirely destroyed over large areas. 

 Even single nests are offensive from their noisome deposits, not only of excrementitious 

 matters, but of others, disgorged by the parents to feed the young. The eggs are gen- 

 erally two in number, often only one; they measure about 24 in length by 2, or rather 

 less, in breadth, being thus notably shorter and of less capacity than those of the Black 



