Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-03-22

Ys'3sH r. EN- gag g. He
GTl "a GI \ might be called the
TRSaNA ~tsSA u skeleton in the
ig-;7sess7Fss@ II closet of the bird
=5=ssss::szzs=-z=ax world. We don't
-=ssASlr% like to say any
thing more about
him than we can help. He isn't pleas
ant subject. The poor fellow seems tc
be aware of his own humble sphere
in feathered society, too, and his man
ners are modest and deprecating. He
makes no noise in the world. His de
meanor, whenever he walks abroad, is
shrinking and sad, as if he was con.
scious OF his own clumsy movements
and the disagreeable ideas his presence
suggests. But he is not altogether un'
appreciated, depressing as he is; and
of him may be said, with truth, that he
does no injury to any living creature
He lives his harmless life and does his
grewsome duty.
What more need be said OF anybody.
Mankind may not love or admire Br'el
Buzzard, but they are forced to accord
him respect and protection. The man
who kills him breaks the law and of.
fends his fellow men.
But there are many interesting things
about this undertaken in feathers that
have never been described, probably
because the general tendency has al.
ways been to let him alone; and of al!
the larger birds of this country there
is not one which is less intimately
known than this.
lie can De seeI or almost any day in
the southern states, soaring high in the
blue sky or dashing slantwise in wine
and storm, a majestic and graceful oh.
iect. This is as near as most people
care to see him.
In his home life he is, it must be ac.
lnowledged, mean and unpleasant
creature; and yet, even there, he is not
without interest to the lover of ali
things which infinite wisdom has placed
upon the earth. Two species of this
vulture, improperly called buzzard, in.
habit the United States east of the
Rocky mountains, one of which ranges
from New England to the Gulf of Mex
leo, and is familiarly known as the tur'
key buzzard. His scientific name is
Cathartes Aura, and he is very diff.
ferent individual from his humblcI
cousin, whose closer acquaintance we
are now making.
The turkey buzzard is a somewhat
larger bird than the black vuiture, and
is not black in color, but a mixture
of black and reddish brown, the latter
being the prevailing color in his
plumage. His bcak, feet and head
where the skin is bare, are of a bright
red color, and he is much less grotesquc-
ly repulsiye in appearance than the
black vulture of the south.
He also moves, when on the ground
with sort of dignihed deliberation
very different from the clumsy hopping
and "teetering" stride of his black
cousin. The latter-Catharista Atrata
the scientists call him--is the common
scayenger of the far south. where he
becomes as familiar almost as the chick.
ems in the small towns, when cold
weather or scarcity of food drives him
from the woods and fields to the haunts
ing feature personal appearance. Ex.
cept when sailing high in air, he is a de-
iectcd, wretched, hopeless and revolt
ing object. His color is sooty black, ex.
cept the tips of the wings, which are o4
dingy, grayish white, this color be
ing visible only when the wings ale
expanded. His beall, head ard bare
,t-rir III Il l, s.
whole aspect and demeanor is ludic.
rously appropriate to his ghastly call
ing.
lie is a bird of the semi-tropics. and
can but i'll endure the degree of cold
which is often feit in the Gulf states
in January.
At such times he resorts to the towns,
and can often be seen on the housetops,
crouchcd close against smoking Chin
ney, where sometimes half dozen
will push and struggle together for the
walmest place. When hunger presses,
he Will descend into the backyard and
walk about in his detected, clumsy way,
disputing with the chickens for what.
ever scraps may be thrown out.
When he drops down from on high
among these chickens, there is a
mighty nutter and considerations but
they soon learn to treat him with the
contemptrous indifference to which he
is accustomed and the naughty rooster
or quamelsome old hen will not hest
tate to knock him heels over head, if hi
comes between the wind and their no
bility.
He is very uncomplulning bird. III
12es not make ury outcry. He simply