Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-03-04

him than we can help. He isn't pleas
ant subject. The poor fellow seems to
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 I'M
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'er
Buzzard, but they are forced to accord
him respect and protection. The man
who kills him breaks the law and Of
tends his fellow men.
But there are mony 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 all
the larger birds of this country there
IS not one which is less intimately
known than this.
He can be seen on almost any day in
the southern states, soaring high in the
blue sky or dashing slantwise in wind
and storm, ma estic and graceful OBJ
ject. This is as near as most people
care to see him.
In his home life he is, it must be ac-
knowledged, a mean and unpleasant
creature; and yet, even there, he is not
without interest to the lover of all
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 a very diff
ferent individual from his humber
cousin, whose closer acquaintance we
are now making.
The turkey buzzard is n somewhat
larger bird than the black vulture, and
Is not black in color, but a mixture
of black and reddish brown, the latter
being the prevailing color in his
plumage. His beak, feet and head,
where the skin is bare, are of bright
red color, and he is much less grotesquc
ly repulsive in appearance than the
black vulture of the south.
He also moves, when on the ground,
with sort of dignified elaboration
very different from the clumsy hopping
and "teetering" stride of his black
cousin. The latter-Catharista Atrata,
the scientists call him-is the common
scavenger 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
of men. He has absolutely no redeem
ing feature of personal appearance. Ex-
cept when sailing high in air, he is de-
!ected, wretched, hopeless and revolt
ing object. His color is sooty black eN-
cept the tips of the wings. which are OF
dingy, grayish white, this color be-
ing visible only when the wings are
expanded. His beak, head and bare
wrinkled neck are dull black, and his
whole aspect and demeanor is ludic-
rously appropriate tc. his CHASTITY call
ing.
He is bird of the semi-tropics, and
can but i'll endure the degree of cold
which is often felt in the Gulf states
in January.
At such times he resorts to the towns,
and can often be seen on the housetops,
crouched close against a smoking chin
ney, where sometimes a half dozen
will push and struggle together for the
warmest 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 higf
among these chickens, there is 9
mighty futter and CONSERVATION; but
they soon learn TO treat him with the
contemptuous Indifference to which b,