228 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



Among the best of the earlier accounts given of the Turkey 

 Vulture is that by Wilson, who remarked in his American Orni- 

 thology that in " New Jersey the Turkey Buzzard hatches in May, 

 the deep recesses of the solitary swamps of that State affording 

 situations well suited to the purpose. The female is at no pains 

 to form a nest with materials; but, having chosen a suitable 

 place, which is either a truncated hollow tree, an excavated 

 stump, or log, she lays on the rotten wood from two to four eggs, 

 of a dull dirty white, or pale cream color, splashed all over with 

 chocolate, mingled with blackish touches, the blotches largest 

 and thickest toward the great end; the form something like the 

 egg of a goose, but blunter at the small end; length, two inches 

 and three-quarters; breadth, two inches. The male watches 

 often while the female is sitting; and, if not disturbed, they will 

 occupy the same breeding place for several years. The young 

 are clothed with a whitish down, similar to that which covers 

 young goslings. If any person approaches the nest and attempts 

 to handle them, they will immediately vomit such offensive mat- 

 ter as to compel the intruder to a precipitant retreat. 



" The Turkey Buzzards are gregarious, peaceable, and harm- 

 less, never offering any violence to a living animal, or, like the 

 plunderers of the Falco tribe, depriving the husbandman of his 

 stock. Hence, though, in consequence of their filthy habits, they 

 are not beloved, yet they are respected for their usefulness; and 

 in the Southern States, where they are most needed, they, as well 

 as the Black Vultures, are protected by a law which imposes a 

 fine on those who wilfully deprive them of life. They generally 

 roost in flocks, on the limbs of large trees; and they may be seen 

 on a summer morning spreading out their wings to the rising 

 sun, and remaining in that posture for a considerable time. 

 Pennant conjectures that this is " to purify their bodies, which 

 are most offensively fetid." But is it reasonable to suppose that 

 that effluvia can be offensive to them which arises from food per- 

 fectly adapted to their nature, and which is constantly the object 

 of their desires? Many birds, and particularly those of the 

 granivorous kind, have a similar habit, which doubtless is at- 

 tended with the same exhilarating effects as an exposure to the 

 pure air of the morning has on the frame of one just risen from 

 repose. 



" These birds, unless when rising from the earth, seldom flap 

 their wings, but sweep along in ogees, and dipping and rising 



