132 SARCORHAMPHID&. 
In the north-western part of that country G. papa is rare, but Grayson records the 
capture of three specimens by a native in the mountains near Acaponeta, about eighty 
miles south-east of Mazatlan'!’. In Guatemala it frequents the coast-regions only, 
where the species may be observed either soaring high in the air and wheeling in circles 
during the heat of day or feeding on some putrid carcase, driving off any Black 
Vulture that ventures to approach. When thoroughly gorged, the bird repairs to a 
neighbouring tree to digest its meal. The Spanish term for this species, both in 
Guatemala and in Nicaragua, is “El Rey Zopilote,” answering exactly to our “ King of 
the Vultures ” 2° 23, 
In Nicaragua Mr. Richmond !° states that the species was frequently observed on | 
the Rio Escondido. He remarks that, occasionally, several were seen in one day, but 
the birds habitually soar so high that they escape notice. One was secured on the 
Rio Frio, where it was attracted to the clearing by a large snake killed a few days 
previously. On approaching the tree where it was about to alight, several Black 
Vultures hastily fled. Mr. Nutting 23 says that in Costa Rica the species was 
somewhat rare near La Palma. 
Mr. Champion informs us that he has seen examples of this species on the plain of 
David, in Chiriqui, feeding on asmall Alligator, and driving off, as usual, the commoner 
Vultures till they themselves were satisfied. 
CATHARISTA *. 
Catharista, Vieillot, Anal. p. 21 (1816). 
Catharistes, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 23 (1874). 
The single species referred to this genus is distinguished from Sarcorhamphus and 
Gypagus by its smaller size and by the absence of coloured warts or caruncles upon 
the bare head. ‘The bill is weak, and the cere is longer than the upper mandible. 
In these respects Catharista is closely allied to Cathartes, but in addition to the black 
colour of the naked head and neck, the wing is much less pointed, and the flight of 
the bird is different from that of the red-headed Turkey Vulture. The quills do not 
reach beyond the middle of the tail, which is square. 
1. Catharista atrata. 
Vultur atratus, Bartram, Trav. p. 289 (1791) °. 
Cathartes atratus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 211°; Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 51°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 
1859, p. 213°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p.2°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 803°; 
Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 188"; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 319 *. 
Catharista atrata, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 44°; Nutting, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. v. 
* In Salvin’s MSS. of the Sarcorhamphide he adopted the genus Catharista as distinct from Cathartes, and 
this arrangement has therefore been adhered to, though some prominent ornithologists do not accept this 
view.—Eb. 
