
128 TURKEY VULTURE. 
large rivers and the ocean, which afford a supply of food at 
all seasons. 
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 suit- 
able place, which is either a truncated hollow tree, an exca- 
vated. stump, or log, she lays on the rotten wood from two to 
four eges, of a dull dirty white or pale cream colour, splashed 
great altitude, and when they discover a wounded deer or other animal, 
they follow its track, and when it sinks, precipitately descend on their 
object. Although only one is at first seen occupying the carcass, few 
minutes elapse before the prey is surrounded by great numbers ; and 
it is then devoured to a skeleton within an hour, even though it be one 
of the larger animals—C¢rvus elaphus, for instance—or a horse. Their 
voracity is almost insatiable, and they are extremely ungenerous, suffer- 
ing no other animal to approach them while feeding. After eating, they 
become so sluggish and indolent, as to remain in the same place until 
urged by hunger to go in quest of another repast. At such times they 
perch on decayed trees, with their heads so much retracted, as to be 
with difficulty observed through the long, loose, lanceolate feathers 
of the collar. The wings, at the same time, hang down over the feet. 
This position they invariably preserve in dewy mornings or after 
rains.” 
The third species, C. papa, not mentioned by Wilson, is introduced in 
the “ Synopsis of Birds of the United States” by the Prince of Musignano, 
who mentions its occurrence only in the warmer parts of North America ; 
it appears occasionally in Florida during summer. The other two are 
of much more frequent occurrence, and are of less noble dispositions, 
more sluggish, very easily intimidated, and dirty in the extreme. 
Truly clearing away all animal matter, they assemble in vast troops 
upon the discovery of some dead or nearly dying animal, and exhibit 
at their feasts scenes of the utmost gluttony and filth. Their power of 
scenting their quarry from afar has been proved erroneous by the well- 
managed experiments of Mr Audubon ; and, indeed, I never was in- 
clined to think that any birds were endowed with any remarkable 
development of this particular sense.—Ep, 
* Mr Ord mentions New Jersey in particular, as in that State he has 
visited the breeding-places of the turkey buzzard, and can therefore 
speak with certainty of the fact. Pennsylvania, it is more than pro- 
bable, affords situations equally attractive, which are also tenanted by 
this vulture for hatching and rearing its young. 

