212 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



watching for the fish which form its only food. When its 

 prey is seen, it closes its wings and drops with wonderful 

 velocity into the water, and generally it secures the fish ob- 

 served. Its food is usually eaten while the bird is perched 

 on some favorite tree in the vicinity of its fishing grounds. 

 These birds live in colonies of greater or less size, and return 

 (.■ach year to their old nesting place. (Fish Hawk.) 



Length, 20-25 ; wing, 17-21; tail, 7-10; tarsus, 2j; culmen, IJ. North 

 America and northern Soutli America; breeding throughout its North 

 American range, and wintering along the South Atlantic States and south- 

 ward. 



FAMILY XXX. AMERICAN VULTURES (CATHARTIDjE) 



A small family (8 species) of New World vultures of large 

 size, living upon decaying flesh, and having the head and much 

 of the neck bare of feathers.' Our species are in 

 size and appearance much like turkeys. The bill is 

 more lengthened and weaker than in the other fami- 

 lies of birds 

 of prey (Raptores), and 

 the feathers are very 

 dark and dull colored. 

 In all the southern 

 states these birds can 

 usually be seen sailing 

 in great circles in the 

 air. 



1. Turkey Vulture 



(325. Cathdrtes ahro). 

 — A very large black 

 bird, with bare neck 

 and head, seen abun- 

 dantly in the Southern 

 States, soaring in 



Turkey Vnltiire „ , . . .,, 



graceful circles with 



outstretched wings, throughout the day. During life the skin 



