96 



TURKEY VULTURE, OR TURKEY-BUZZARD. 



VULTUR AURA. 

 [Plate LXXV.— Fig. 1.] 



Uruha, aura TziOpilotl^ Marcgrave, Mexico, 207, 208. — Hernandez, Mex. 331. — Vullur Gallinoi 

 Jlfricance facie, Carion Crow, SiiOANE, Jam, II, p. 294, tab. 254. — Brown, Jam.. 471. — Damp. Voy. 

 II, pt, 2, p. 67. — ^Bartram's Travels, p. 289. — Catesby's Carolina, I, 6. — Coitus sylmticus, 

 Barrere, 129. — ^Lawson's Carolina, 138. — Bancroft, 152. — Du Pratz, II, 77. — Wixl. Oni. 68. 

 Raii, Syn. JV'o. 180. — Linn. Syst. 122. — Cannon Vulture, Lath. Gen. Syn. I, 9, J^To. 5. Id. Sup. 

 p. 2. — ^Penn. tRrct. Zool. I, p. 221. — Vautour du Bresil, De Buef. Ois. I, 246. PL enl. JV'o. 187. 

 — Brisson, I, 468. — CoXicaquauhtli, Clavigero, Hist. Mex. J, 47. — Peace's Museum, t^'o. 11, 

 male — ±%female. 



THIS species is well known throughout the United States^ 

 but is most numerous in the southern section of the union. In the 

 northern and middle states it is partially migratory, the greater 

 part retiring to the south on the approach of cold weather. But 

 numbers remain all the winter in Maryland, Delaware and New- 

 jersey ; particularly in the vicinity of the large rivers and the 

 ocean, which afford a supply of food at all seasons. 



In Newjersey,^ 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 suitable place, which is 

 either a truncated hollow tree, an excavated stump or log, she lays 

 on the rotten wood from two to four eggs, of a dull dirty white, 

 or pale cream color, splashed all over with chocolate, mingled 

 with blackish touches, the blotches largest and thickest towards 



* The editor mentions Newjersey 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 probable, affords situations equally attractive, which are also tenanted by this Vulture, for hatch- 

 ing and rearing its young. 



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