FAMILY I. 
VULTURINI ; Illiger. 
GENUS I. — CA THARTES, Illiger. 
1. CATHARTES AURA , ILLIGER. FULTUR AURA, WILSON. 
TURKEY VULTURE, OR TURKEY BUZZARD. 
WILSON, PL. LXXV. FIG. I EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
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 New Jersey,* 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 
* Mr Ord mentions New Jersey 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 hatching and rearing its young. 
