AMERICAN VULTURES. FAMILY CATHARTIDÆ
TURKEY VULTURE
Cathartes aura septentrionalis. [Case 3], Fig. 9
Head red, plumage with a brownish cast. Young birds have the head covered with brownish down. L. 30.
Range. Most of the Western Hemisphere in several subspecies; in the eastern states north to northern New Jersey and, locally, southern New York. Migrating south from the northern part of its range.
Washington, abundant P.R. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, casual, two records. N. Ohio, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 5-Oct. 30. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27.
The 'Turkey Buzzard' has a wider wing-stretch and is a better aviator than the Black Vulture. It is more a bird of the country than the last-named species which is the common Vulture of the streets in many southern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in April in Virginia.
BLACK VULTURE
Catharista urubu urubu. [Case 3], Fig. 10
Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of the Turkey Vulture.
Range. Eastern U.S., north to Virginia; an abundant Permanent Resident. Washington, casual, Mch., July, Dec.
The Vulture of southern cities; a frequenter of slaughter houses and markets. In flight the under surfaces of the wing look silvery. It is by no means so impressive a figure in the air as the Turkey Vulture. Two pale bluish white eggs, generally with brown markings, are laid on the ground under logs, bushes, palmettoes, etc., in March and April.