438 BIRDS—CATHARTIDA. 
Northern Ohio. Breeds. Formerly abundant and perhaps in part resi- 
dent throughout the State. Dr. Kirtland, in 1838, says : 
“The Turkey Buzzard is common during the summer, but dvss not continue in the 
northern parts of our State during the winter. It formerly nested in considerable num- 
bers on the banks of the Big Beaver, near the line of Pennsylvania and Ohio, within 
the limits of the former State.’ It numbers have greatly diminished within a 
years.” 
In 1850, speaking of changes in the fauna of the State, and referring 
to previous years, he observes: 
- “Turkey Buzzards and Ravens collected in numerous flocks about every dead carcass, 
while the Crow was less abundant than it is in more recent times.” 
In this vicinity a notable diminution in number has taken place in 
the last twenty-five years. Now they may be seen from March to Decem- 
ber, but in former years they remained, in small numbers, though the 
winter. Dr. Howard Ki. Jones informs me that they still remain through 
the winter at Circleville, only twenty five miles south of Columbus. 
Turkey Buzzards are essentially gregarious, not only flying and feed- 
ing in company, but resorting to the same spot to roost. These roosts 
are not uncommon, and generally a sycamore grove in the bend or fork 
of a stream is chosen. Here they resort about sunset in considerable 
numbers. 
In general they are very silent birds, their only notes being a hiss of 
defiance or warning to their neighbors when feeding, or a low, guttural 
croak of alarm when flying low overhead. 
Dr. Coues’ gives the following general account of their movements, and 
breeding habits : 
‘Except when flying, the birds show to fittle advantage. The color is dull; the 
form uncomely ; the gait is constrained, and the attitudes are negligent and slothful. 
They walk or hop indifferently, and sometimes move with a succession of leaps, accel- 
erated with the wings. When about to take flight from the ground, they stoop for an 
instant till the breast almost touches, and then, unfolding the wings, give a vigorous 
spring into the air; with a few powerful, hurried flaps, they are fairly off. They soon 
begin their gyrations with set wings, only beating at intervals, when they are forced to 
rise rapidly away from some obstacles; and, circling thus, they are shortly in the upper 
air. 
The Turkey Buzzard breeds sometimes in communities and sometimes by single pairs, 
depositing its eggs on the ground, on rocks, or in hojlow logs and stumps. The situa- 
tion is generally in thick woods; and when numbers breed together, the foulness of the 
resort is beyond description—vegetation may be entirely destroyed over large areas. 
Even single nests are offensive from their noisome deposits, not only of excrementitious 
matters, but of others, disgorged by the parents to feed the young. The eggs are gen- 
erally two in number, often only one; they measure about 23 in length by 2, or rather 
less, in breadth, being thus notably shorter and of less capacity than those of the Black 
