198 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
vulture, its range extending over the greater 
part of tropical and temperate America, and 
into the West Indies. 
In some of the villages and towns of the 
United States they are found in considerable 
numbers, roaming about the streets and sitting 
upon the roofs of the houses without fear. 
Like many other kinds of vultures they are 
unable to restrain their appetite should the 
opportunity arise whereby they can gorge 
themselves, and when feeding upon a large 
carcass they will continue to eat until, as one 
writer puts it, “ the food runs out of their 
mouths as they run. ’ ’ Even when thus satiated, 
should there be any food left over, the birds 
do not go far away from their dinner, but 
remain in the vicinity to digest what they 
have already partaken of, so that they can 
return to the feast at the earliest possible 
moment. 
Turkey-vultures build their nests in the 
hollows of trees, in caverns, or upon the ground 
under the shelter of a bush or rock. The 
structures are stated to have a most objection¬ 
able odour, while, moreover, the adult birds 
have the unpleasant habit of ejecting the 
contents of their stomach at any person who 
molests them. 
The black vulture is another familiar species 
