4 NORTH AMERICAN OOLOGY. PART I. 



following are the proportions of four specimens, which will well represent their 

 usual variations: 2|f inches by Uf ; 2|f by 1^- ; 211 by 1H ; 2H by 

 lit- These specimens were from New Jersey, South Carolina, Louisiana, and 

 Tamaulipas (Mexico). The more common varieties have a ground of a light 

 cream-color, marked with large confluent spots of reddish-brown or chocolate, 

 chiefly predominating at the larger end, but also sparsely scattered over the en- 

 tire egg. Intermixed with these are less frequent markings of a light purplish 

 or lilac shade of drab. These are often so faint as only to be perceptible on a 

 close examination. An egg taken some years since in New Jersey, by Alexander 

 Wilson, and which perhaps is somewhat faded from its original colors, is marked 

 over the entire shell with confluent spots of a dark greenish-brown, but with 

 no perceptible shades of red or purple. Another variety from Cheraw, S. C. (fig. 2) 

 has a ground of nearly pure white, is very nearly unspotted, and is only marked 

 with a few small dots and lines of red and indistinct purple at the larger 

 end. 



CATHARTES ATRATUS. 



Vultur jota, GMEL. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 247. 



" WILS. Amer. Orn. IX, 1814, pi. Ixxv, fig. 2. 

 Vultur atratus, BAETEAM'S Trav. 1791, p. 289. 

 Vultur urulm, VIEILL. Ois. d'Am. Sept. 1807, p. 53, pi. ii. 

 Cathartcs jota, BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 23. 



" NUTTALL, Manual, I, 1832, 46. 



" " AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1835, 33 ; V, 345, pi. cvi. 



" " BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 1. 



Cathartes atratus, RICH. & SWAINS. Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, 1831, 6. 

 " " AUD. Syn. 1839, p. 3. 



" " Birds of America, I, 1840, 17, pi. iii. 



CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 58. 

 Birds of Gilliss's U. S. Nav. Ast. Ex. II, 1855, 173. 

 VULG. The Carrion Crow. The Black Vulture. Jolecillo. Galllnazo. 



THE distribution of this species, though perhaps less extended in North America 

 than that of the preceding, is yet over a Avide extent of territory. Along the south- 

 ern and southwestern coast of the United States, from North Carolina to Mexico, 

 it is very common. West of the Rocky Mountains it is said to be abundant, 1 and 

 to be found as far to the north as Oregon Territory. We have the authority of Mr. 

 David Douglas 2 for its visiting the marshy islands of Columbia River, and the 

 banks of Lewis and Clarke's River, latitude 45 -49 north. Mr. Auduboii has 



1 Later investigations do not confirm its abundance on the Pacific ; and it is a noticeable fact, that, in 

 the numerous collections of birds made on the western coast of North America within the last few 

 years, there are no specimens of C. atratus. 



2 Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, 4. 



