143 



and owls ; "voracious and indiscriminate gormandizers of carrion and animal refuse 

 of all sorts, hence efficient and almost indispensable scavengers in the warm coun- 

 tries where they abound." {Coiees.) Two species, the condor and the California 

 vulture, are among the largest birds of flight in the world. All are American, the 

 Old World vultures (Vulturinse) being vulture-like hawks. Genera five, species 

 six or eight. 



RHINOGRYPHUS. Ridgway. Ttirkey Buzzards. 



177. R. AURA. (L.) Ridg. Turkey Buzzard. Black lustrous above; skin 

 of head and neck red ; wings very long ; a tuft of bristles in front of eye. L. 30 ; 

 W. 22; T. 12. Common summer resident except in the prairie region. Protected 

 by State statute as a public scavenger. 



CATHARISTA. Vieillot. Carrion Crows. 



178. C. ATRATA. (Bart.) Gray. Carrion Crow. Uniform dull black ; wings 

 short; skin of neck corrugate; no bristles in front of eye. L. 24; W. 17; T. 8. 

 N. C. to Mexico, rarely straying northward. Included in this list as it has been 

 taken by Mr. Langdon near Cincinnati and seen by him on several previous occa- 

 sions in winter in the same vicinity. 



ORDER D. COLUMB.E. 



{The Doves.) 



Bill straight, compressed, the horny tip separated by a constriction from the soft 

 part. Nostrils opening beneath a soft turmid membrane. Hind toe usually on a 

 level with the rest, the others usually not webbed. Tarsus mostly scutellate in 

 front, elsewhere reticulate, the plates soft. Head small. Plumage soft, compact, 

 the feathers very loosely inserted. Altricial ; monogamous. 



FAMILY COLUMBID^. 



{The Doves.) 



Wings long, pointed. Tail never forked, of 12 or 14 feathers; male with neck 

 iridescent. Species about 300, found in most regions, but most abundant in the 

 East Indies. Besides the following, quite a number of species occur in the South- 

 ern States. The common domesticated dove (Columba livida) is a fair type of the 

 family, 



ECTO PISTES. Swainson. Passenger Pigeons. 



179. E. MIGRATORIUS. (L.) Sw. Wild Pigeon. Bluish, with reddish 

 and violet tinges, reddish below; L. 17. N. A. abundant; gregarious. Nests in 

 Northern Michigan and occasionally in Northern Indiana. A well-Known game 

 bird. 



