SURVEY OF THE ZOOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA. 79 



Of the large animals we have the wapiti, a species of deer ; 

 two species of the black-tailed deer ; a long-tailed deer; and 

 the prong-horned antelope; also the wild goat ; the big-horn 

 sheep of the Rocky Mountains ; and last, though not least, the 

 American bison, familiarly known as the buffalo — the inhabi- 

 tant of the wide-spreading plains and prairies extending from 

 the Arctic Circle to Mexico. 



Among the land birds, especially the birds of prey, there 

 are several which are spread over the greater part of the 

 northern continent, some indeed being; found also in great 

 numbers in South America. These are the turkey vulture, 

 the black vulture, the little rusty-crowned falcon, the pigeon 

 hawk, slate-coloured hawk, red-tailed buzzard, American homed 

 owl, little American owl, and five other species of falcons. The 

 perchers are less widely distributed. 



There are, however, numerous families of insectivorous 

 birds peculiar to America, which either permanently inhabit 

 the more genial portions of the continent, or pay annual visits 

 to those regions where the richest fruits abound and insect 

 life prevails, affording them an abundant banquet. These 

 migrating birds, as the winter draws on, take their departure 

 southward to the warmer climate of Mexico, where they find 

 abundance of food. As the summer returns, and the fruits of 

 the orchard, the corn of the field, and wild berries ripen, and 

 insects increase in numbers, vast flocks of warblers, wood- 

 peckers, maize-birds, fly-catchers, thrushes, hang-nests, pigeons, 

 blue-birds, and others return from their southern pilgrimage, 

 to feed on the minute creatures which now people the plains, 

 the hill-sides and forests, and on the abundant productions of 

 the earth, enlivening the forests with their varied plumage, 

 and delighting man l>v their melodious notes. 



