100 THE BIRDS 
GENUS CATHARISTA. 
[326]. Catharista urubu (Vieillot). Black Vulture. 
[South Carolina Buzzard. Black Buzzard]. 
Raner.—Tropical and Lower Austral zones from 
western Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and southeastern 
Virginia south through the Southern States, Mexico, and 
Central .\merica to southern South America; casual in 
Ohio, Maine, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; 
rare in the West Indies. 
The Black Buzzard, Black Vulture, or Carrion Crow, 
is easily distinguished from the preceding species when in 
flight bv its short, curved wings, and its rapid wing beats 
between each sail; in fact, unlike the Turkey Vulture, it 
seldoin sails for any great distance without the rapid wing 
beats. When sitting still it is easily distinguished by its 
short dark body and black head and neck. The range of 
this species is gradually being extended north and east- 
ward, formerly seldom seen on the north side of James 
River. It now occurs in Warwick, York, and Eliza- 
beth City counties, breeding in the former, possibly in the 
mountains. Like the preceding species it feeds on carrion, 
and along the beaches from Virginia Beach southward it 
may be found feeding on the dead fish. It makes no nest, 
the eggs being deposited in some hollow log, hollow at base 
of tree, or under a dead tree top or thick tangle of brush, 
etc. Two eggs are usually deposited by May 1st, they being 
later birds to breed than the Turkey Vulture. The eggs are 
a faint greenish-white, spotted, blotched and streaked with 
various shades of brown and lavender, more often on the 
