114 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
pair breeding in the nest of a Green Heron, which had been deserted by 
the original possessors. On another occasion, a nest was found built in 
that of a Crow Blackbird. 
Doves also nest sometimes on the ground. Mr. Frank B. Diffenderffer, 
associate editor of of Lancaster city, and Prof. H. Justin Boddy, 
also of Lancaster county, both inform me they have repeatedly found 
them breeding on the ground. Doves seldom feed on insects but sub- 
sist almost exclusively on cereals, small seeds of different plants, and, 
occasionally, it is said, on various wild berries. The food materials of 
eleven doves which I have examined are as follows : 
No. 
Date. 
Locality. 
Food-Materials . 
1 
Sept. 11, 1880 
Bast Bradford, Pa 
Grass seeds. 
2 
Oct. 15, 1880, ...... 
Bast Bradford. Pa 
Small seeds. 
3 
Feb. 16. 1880, 
Pocopson. Pa 
Seeds and other vegetable matter. 
4 
March 6, 1880 
Chester county. Pa. , .' 
Seeds of Amaranthacece. 
5 
March 20. 1882, 
Chester county. Pa 
Wheat and small black seeds. 
6 
April 5. 1882 
Chester county. Pa 
Corn and small seeds. 
7 
May 7. 1883 
West Goshen, Pa 
Wheat and corn. 
8 
May 25. 1883 
West Goshen, Fa 
Small seeds. 
D 
June 31. 1883 
West Goshen, Pa., 
Wheat. 
10 
Nov. 29, 1886 
North Brook, Pa 
Apple seeds and seeds of grasses. 
11 
Nov. 29. 1886 
North Brook, Pa 
Apple seeds and seeds of grasses. 
Order RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 
Suborder SARCORHAMPHI. Vultures. 
Family CATHARTID.ffi. American Vultures. 
THE VULTURES. 
These cowardly, ignoble, gluttonous and partly gregarious birds are found in 
abundance in the warmer countries, where, frequently, they are protected by law, 
because of their value as scavengers. Vultures subsist largely on carrion. They 
often collect in considerable numbers around the body of a defunct horse, cow, steer 
or other large sized animal, and gorge themselves until they are scarcely able to fly. 
When, however, their uncleanily repast is finished they usually perch on trees, 
rocks, fences, etc., where they remain in a quiet and sleepy attitude, with the wings 
drooping. Frequently if these birds are wounded, or suddenly frightened when 
feeding, and sometimes when their nests or young are molested, they eject the foetid 
contents of the crop. Two species of th.e family are mentioned as occurring in Penn- 
sylvania ; one, the Turkey Buzzard as it is commonly called, is rather numerous in 
some parts of the state, where it also often is resident. The other species — Black 
Vulture — is found here only as a straggler trom the south. 
