FOOD OF BIRDS. 
11 
Tlie food of this family resembles the last. Tim majority feed upon 
mice, small birds, snakes, lizards and frogs. To these the larger hawks 
and buzzards add moles, rabbits, squirrels, rats, water -fowl and game, 
and the smaller feed largely on such insects as locusts, grasshoppers, 
beetles, crickets and dragonflies. The only species which commonly in- 
vade the barn yard are tbe'Sbarp shinned, Cooper’s and the Goshawk, the 
Red-tailed, Red shouldered and Broad winged Buzzard. These frequently 
carry off young chickens and ducks with surprising skill and bo ness. 
They atone for their shortcomings iu this respect bv pursuing and driving 
away the flock of blackbirds, reed-birds and wild pigeons which would in- 
tiict greater damage. 
The Fish Hawk subsists entirely upon fi*li. The Eagles destroy ra >■ 
bits, waterfowl, and sometimes lambs and pigs. Both teed upon deai 
animals and carrion, and the White-headed Eagle upon fish; in this re- 
spect he is largely dependent upon the Eish Haw k. 
Family Cathartidjs. American Vultures. 
Cathartes aura. Turkey Buzzard. Summer resident. Very common. 
« stratus. Black Vulture ; Carriou Crow Has ceased to visit the btare. 
The Vultures, or Buzzards, as they are commonly called, feed entirely 
upon carrion and offal. 
Family Columbidje. Pigeons. 
Eetopistes migratorius. Wild Pigeon. Resident most of the year, Abundant 
Zemedura Carolinensis. Carolina Dove. Resident most of the year. Abundant., 
The food of this family consists of acorns, beech-mast, corn, buckwheat, 
bempseed and various grains, with dogwood, poke, partridge and whortle- 
berries. It will be noticed that insects do not enter into iheir diet, am 
this is true of them and their young at all times; the young are led by 
the parents on half digested food regurgitated. The Wild Pigeon in 
former years did considerable damage to grain crops, but now, in the more 
cultivated portions of the State at least, they have censed to appear m 
such enormous flocks as formerly . 
Family MELEAGRiniE. Turkeys. 
Meleagris galiipavo var. Americana. Common Wild Turkey. Resident. Notcommon. 
The food of the Wild Turkey consists of grain, nuts, acorns, grapes and 
other berries, grasshoppers and some largo insects. 
Family Tetraoniiee, Grouse, etc. . , 
Cupidonia cupido. Pinnated Grouse; Prairie Hen. Resident. Almost exterminate . 
Bonasa nmbellus. Ruffed Grouse ; Partridge ; Pheasant. Resident. Common. 
Ortyx Virgioianns. Virginia Partridge ; Quail ; Bob-white. Resident. Abundant. 
Various grains, as corn, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat and seeds, with 
berries, worms and insects, form the food of these birds. The Grouse 
