DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
The eggs, ordinarily, are so different in size and shape from those of any other species similarly 
marked, that they can he easily identified. 
REMARKS : 
Tlxe eggs figured represent the average and extremes in size, shape, and markings of specimens I 
have collected. The center egg is the commonest form. 
The Turkey Buzzard is not so plentiful in Ohio as in some of the Southern States. Still, in certain 
sections they are quite abundant. In Pickaway county there are two roosts at which they congregate 
every night. As many as two to five hundred may be seen at times. One of these, the Walnut creek 
roost, has been frequented to certain knowledge for twenty-five years, and, without doubt, much longer. 
The timber is almost entirely large sycamore. The ground is low, and situated near the junction of the 
creek with the Scioto river. It is an interesting and curious sight to see the Buzzards, as night 
approaches, sailing in, from all directions, to rest their wings and bodies from their day’s flight. 
Whenever one Buzzard is seen, close inspection will generally discern more, for they are gregarious 
at all seasons. When carrion is found by one, others soon come, until a large flock is assembled. They 
seem never to be in a hurry to begin a feast, and will often sit upon trees, fences, stumps, or upon 
the ground, in the immediate vicinity, for considerable time before eating. When upon the ground they 
move about awkwardly, making a striking contrast with their grace of motion during flight. When they 
start to fly, they leap into the air with a clumsy jump, flap their wings rapidly until they are some feet 
above the surface, and then begin to sail in increasing circles. 
My friend, Mr. William Stribling, found a nest of the Turkey Buzzard in an old sycamore stump, 
along a small creek, a few years since, and gave me the eggs it contained. The same stump had been 
occupied by a pair the year previous, and the eggs were taken. The mother-bird was upon the nest when 
Mr. Stribling reached down for the eggs. She did not fly nor make any resistance, except to vomit forth 
an offensive yellowish liquid. Binding this did not drive away the intruder, or having exhausted her 
supply, she ceased vomiting, and to all appearances was dead. Being pushed over on her side she re- 
mained there, and, finding it impossible to make her fly, she was left in the stump. 
Dr. Elliott Coues in “Birds of the North-West,” says: “When wounded and captured, the Turkey 
Buzzard warns off its aggressor very effectually by casting up the fetid contents of the crop, but offers 
no resistance. Several winged birds I have handled remained perfectly passive after this, and even 
seemed apathetic as they were being put to death. I learned, on one occasion, that they will simulate 
death. A bird that I had shot — through the lungs, as I judged from the crimson froth and blood that 
flowed from the beak — appeared dead soon after I picked it up, and I carried it home, some distance, 
holding it by the legs dangling, perfectly limp. I threw it carelessly down on the ground by my tent, 
and turned to something else ; but, in a few moments, on looking at it again, I was surprised to find 
the bird I had thought dead had changed its position, and I caught its bright brown eye glancing fur- 
tively around. On going up to it its eyes closed, the body relaxed, and it lay as if dead again. I com- 
pressed the chest for several minutes, till I was satisfied life was extinct, and then went to supper. But 
the cunning bird was still “playing possum” and, I suppose, scrambled into the bushes as soon as my 
back was turned; at any rate it was gone when I returned.” 
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