CATHARTID^, AMERICAN VULTURES. 377 



for tbe Zoirilots, known in South America by the name of GaUmazzi ; 

 in other places by that of Aitre ; and in some places, though very im- 

 properly, by that of Ravens. There are two different species of these 

 birds — the one, the Zopilot, properly so called ; the other, called Cozca- 

 quanhtli ; they are both bigger than the Raven. These two species 

 resemble each other in their hooked bill and crooked claws, and by 

 having upon their head, instead of feathers, a wrinkled membrane with 

 some curly hairs. * * * * The two species are distinguished, how- 

 ever, by their size, their color, their numbers, and some other peculiari- 

 ties. The Zopilots, properly so called, have black feathers, with a brown 

 bill and feet ; they go often in flocks, and roost together upon trees. 

 This species is very numerous, and is to be found in all the different 

 climates ; while, on the contrary, the Cozcaquauhtli is far from numer- 

 ous, and is peculiar to the warmer climates alone. The latter bird is 

 larger than the Zopilot, has a red head and feet, with a beak of a deep- 

 red color, except toward its extremity, which is white. Jts feathers are 

 brown, except on the parts about the breast, which are of a reddish- 

 black. The wings are of an ash color upon the inside, upon the outside 

 are variegated with black and tav/ny. The Cozcaquauhtli is called by 

 the Mexicans King of the Zopilots," &c. 



The "Zopilot" above mentioned is undoubtedly the Black Vulture 

 {C. atratiis), OT some small, closely' allied, species; while the "Cozca- 

 quauhtli" is certainly the common Turkey Buzzard {C. aura). The par- 

 agraph is introduced to show what names these birds bore with the old 

 authors; and particularly, that the Turkey Buzzard used to be called 

 "King of the Zopilots." What the King Vulture really is, may pres- 

 ently appear. Mr. A. S. Taylor, in an article in the San Francisco Her- 

 ald for April — , 1859, gives the following, also from the Abbe Clavijero's 

 work, but interpolated and differently worded : 



"The Cozqualitle is called by the Mexicans of the city and valley of 

 Mexico the King of the Topilotes; * * * * r^^^^\ j^jj^y ggy {j^j^^ 

 when the two species happen to meet together, over the same carrion, 

 the Topilote * * * * never begins to eat until the other has tasted 

 it. * * * * The King of the Topilotes has a red head and feet 

 [&c. ; the same as the above description]. Bonare says that the Aura 

 (pronounced Owra, for the Turkey Buzzard, by the Mexicans) is the 

 Cosqnafh of New Spain and the Trojniot of the Indians, so that Cozca- 

 quauhtli and Tropilotl are both native Mexican-Indian names for two 

 different birds. But the bird that now goes by the name of the King 

 of the Topilotes in New Spain, seems ditferent from the one we are de- 

 scribing. This is a strong bird, of the size of a common Eagle, with 

 stately air, strong claws, fine piercing eyes, and a beautiful blacl-., jchife, 

 and tau'iii/ plumarje. It is remarkable, particularly, for a certain scarlet- 

 colored, fleshy substance which surrounds the neck like a collar, and 

 comes over its head in the form of a little crown." * * # * 



Tlie above mentioned Vulture, "with a beautiful black, white, and 

 tawny i»lumage," is the one we wish to determine. It is evidently no 

 Catluirft's; ni^irdTeutly a li^arcorJiaiupu.s ; and i)erhaps the same bird that 

 fornu'd the subject of a note I gave on page 1(> of my I'rodrome of the 

 Ornitliology of Arizona, to tlic ibllowing effect: AVliile encamped on 

 tlie San Francisco IJiver, near the mountains of the same name, in .July, 

 18(io, I saw a pair of very large rapacious birds sail over head with firm, 

 easy, graceful (light, sustained for a long time without visible motion of 

 the wings. Tliey were about the size of Bald ICagles, l»ut the shape of 

 the wings and its mode of llight were those of Vultures. The entire 

 under parts were imre white. I gazed with admiration, yet with a feel- 



