496 



PREYING BIRDS— RAPTORES. 



Cathartes Californianus, Shaw. 



THE CALIFOKNIAN VULTURE. 



Vultur Californianus, Shaw, Nat. ilisc. IX. 1779, 1; pi. 301. — Calhcirtes Culifornianiis, 

 CuviER, Uegne Anim. II. .316. — Nitt.\ll, Man. I. 39. — AuDuaoN', BiiiLs Aincr. 

 pi. 411: oct. cd. I. 12; pi. 1. — Baird and Cassijj, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 5. — 

 Newiieukv, p. R. Rep. VI. iv. 73. — Heekmaxn, X. vi. 59. — Cooper and Scck- 

 LEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 141. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 42. (Fort Yuma.) — 

 Taylor, Hutcliings's Magazine, IV. 18.i9, 537. (Figure of egg and young.) — Gdr- 

 NEY, Catal. Raptoral Birds, 1864, 39. — Scl.iter, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1866, 366 (figure from 

 life) ; 1868, 183 (young in down, from life). 



Sp. Cn.\n. Plumage black, lustrous above, duller bdciw ; seeondarv quills witb a gray- 

 ish tinge ; greater wing coverts tipped witli wliite, forming a transverse band on tlie wing. 



C. Califomianu.t. — Female, not tiuite maturn. 



