Davis: NaturAL History REcoRDS | 153 
to issue through the nostrils. With a huge warlike beak and 
claws capable of inflicting painful injury they never made the 
least attempt to defend themselves, but disgorged the foul and 
malodorous contents of their stomachs on the intruder, squirting 
it forth with so well directed an aim as to make this loathsome 
mode of defense most effective. This horrible method is practiced 
by the youngest fledgeling, so that their nests are seldom disturbed. 
Back of the farm was a dense forest extending for many miles, 
and I noticed that as night approached the buzzards flew in that 
direction evidently to roost. After some trouble I discovered that 
they invariably spent the night on the same giant tree, a sycamore 
long since dead and standing in a little clearing, and noting the 
hour of their flight secreted myself and watched their roosting. 
First a pair arrived in company and alighted on one of the middle 
branches. After much flapping of wings and unrest they finally 
settled down, and stretching their bodies after the manner of 
turkeys, walked along the limb outward till they reached the chosen 
spot. Some others arrived and after considerable restlessness 
settled on the same branch, and it was ludicrous to observe how 
the earlier arrivals disturbed by the shaking of their perch resented 
this intrusion through grunts and hisses. 
When wet by a passing shower they will sit on a fence with 
outstretched wings literally hung up to dry, and at times they 
will perch on the kitchen chimney in a like attitude for the neces- 
sary warmth if it be a cool day. 
The Dec. 22, 1923, meeting was held in the Public Museum. 
Miss Anna King reported a dandelion in blossom at Arrochar 
on Dec. 15. Mr. Ernest Beaumont reported having seen a painted 
turtle in Cameron’s pond on the same date. 
Mr. Edward J. Burns reported finding the large and beautiful 
beetle Cychrus viduus under a log, together with some snails, on 
which it feeds, while he and Mr. Davis were searching for sala- 
manders on Nov. 29. But two examples of this species have 
previously been reported from Staten Island. Mr. Davis ex- 
hibited the beetle, which had been kept alive in a large jar with 
soft moist earth at the bottom and a piece of bark under which it 
could crawl. Before the insect discovered the bark, it dug out 
of sight in the soft earth during the day but at evening would | 
come from its hiding. 
