THE BLACK VULTURE. 423 



riously affect only one sense— that of smell. If caught upon the nest the 

 female will hiss defiantly. Besides this, the birds have only one note, a low 

 guttural croak — of alarm rather than warning. If closely beset the bird is 

 said to eject the contents of its crop — an effectual defense, in very sooth. 



It would appear that Turkey Vultures have very materially decreased 

 in numbers in our state during the past fifty years. It is probable that this 

 decrease is due in large measure to the gradual failure of their food supply. 

 Wild meat is entirely lacking, and the necessary untidiness of the pioneer days 

 has given place to thriftier habits on the part of our farmers. 



No. 189. 



BLACK VULTURE. 



A. O. U. No. 326. Catharista urubu (Vieill.). 



Synonym. — Carrion Crow. 



Description. — Adult : Entire plumage black, somewhat lustrous above, and 

 with greenish reflections ; very dark brownish black below ; wing-quills edged with 

 gray and grayish brown, whitish on under surface and with white shafts ; naked 

 skin of head and neck and "cere", blackish; tip of bill yellowish white. Young 

 not different. Length 23.00-27.00 (584.2-685.8) ; extent about four and a half 

 feet; wing 17.00 (431.8) ; tail 8.00 (203.2) ; bill 2.10 (53.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; dusky head serves to distinguish from 

 Cathartes aura; smaller; flight more labored; tail shorter, etc. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, in hollow trees or logs or on the 

 ground under logs, palmettos, projecting stones and the like. Eggs, 1-3, pale 

 bluish white, marked as in preceding species, but perhaps less heavily. Av. size, 

 3.00 X 2.00 (76.2 X 50.8). 



General Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, north irregularly to North 

 Carolina and the lower Ohio Valley, west to the Great Plains, and south through 

 Mexico and Central America, the West Indies, and most of South America. Strag- 

 gling north to New York, New England, and South Dakota. Breeds in the United 

 States from North Carolina coastwise to Texas, and in the interior to Indiana, 

 Illinois, and Kansas. 



Range in Ohio. — "Rare or accidental winter visitor in southwestern Ohio 

 only" (Wheaton). One recent record, Reynoldsburg, February 6, 1895 (Jones). 



SERVICES which in our northern cities are usually delegated to a 

 "White-wings" brigade, are regularly performed in some quarters of the 

 South by regiments of Black-wings. Swarthy and unsavory scavengers they 



