Turkey Bussard. 261 
was the patience and orderly behavior that characterized the 
nearly-grown young, and their sweetness and gentleness of 
disposition under the most trying circumstances as well, that 
impressed us as extremely wonderful, and led to the opinion 
that man-born offspring might here learn a lesson of filial 
obedience and respect that would greatly redound to the 
honor and glory of the race. 
When captured, these birds offer no active resistance, but 
very effectually warn off their aggressor by vomiting up the 
half-putrid contents of their crop. They will often simulate 
death at such times. On one occasion an individual having 
been shot by Dr. Coues was picked up for dead. While 
eing carried to the Doctor’s tent, it was perfectly limp. On 
reaching his quarters, he carelessly threw it upon the ground, 
and went to work at something else. After a little, upon 
looking around, he beheld to his great surprise that the bird 
had changed position, and was furtively glancing around. 
On going up to it, its eyes instantly closed, its body became 
relaxed, and it lay perfectly motionless, and apparently life- 
less. After compressing its chest for several minutes until 
he fancied life extinct, he dropped the bird and repaired to 
supper. Upon his return the bird was gone, it evidently 
having scrambled into the bushes as soon as he had turned 
his back upon it. 
The young, when first hatched, are covered with a whitish 
down, and are fed upon half-digested matter which is dis- 
gorged by their parents. When taken from the nest and 
kept in captivity until fully grown they become exceedingly 
tame, and will feed on fresh meat, earthworms, crickets, grass- 
hoppers, and other large insects, which they apparently relish, 
and oftentimes will also eat bits of bread, cake and particles 
of apples or pears which are thrown before them. The 
benefits which these scavengers render are too well known 
to need any comment. In the mature state the plumage of 
the Buzzard is brownish-black, and more or less glossy, the 
quills being paler on the under surface. The skin of the 
