BIRDS* 



The turkey buzzard ( vultur aura J abounds in 

 the states of South Carolina and Georgia, and per- 

 forms the duty of public scavengers, (at least as far 

 as concerns the removal of dead animal matter), 

 •with great fidelity. They are continually hovering 

 in the air over the towns, searching for the sole ob- 

 ject of their food, when not employed in devouring 

 4t; and appears, as if by common consent,* .to be 

 welcome visitors, for there is scarcely an instance of 

 their being killed : they are in consequence very 

 tame. Indeed, they seem to be regarded with as 

 much veneration by the people of those states, as the 

 ibis formerly was by the Egyptians. 



They are uncommonly fat, but the nature of their 

 food renders their flesh so rank, that even a new 

 negro, to whom a musky alligator is a delicious 

 morsel, refuses to eat it. Their quills are large and 

 Strong, and answers very well for writing pens. 



The columba migratoria^ or common wild pigeon 

 of the United States, winters in the woods of the 

 southern states and Florida, and pass over to the 

 .Bahama Islands. After their return in the Au- 

 tumn to their Winter quarters, they sometimes, in 

 mild Winters, remain in the middle and northern 

 states. During the present season (1806-7), which, ' 

 upon the whole, has not been severe, they were oc- 

 ^casionally seen in our markets, 

 j The rev. Mr. Hall gives us the following curious 

 account of the pigeon roosts in the Mississippi tern» 

 tory. 



* In Virginia they ar« jrotectetl by law. 



