4 



U. S. p. R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



Family VULTURIDAE. The Vultures. 



CATIIARTES, Illiger. 

 CATHAKTES AUKA. (Linnaeus.) 



The Turkey Buzzard.— The Turkey Vulture. 



VuUur aura, Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) 

 Calharles septmtrionalia, De Wied, Hoise, I, 162. (1839.) 

 FioniES. — Catesby, Nat. Hist, Carolina I, pi. G ; Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. 1, pi. 2 ; Wilson Am. Orn. IX, pi. 75, fig. 1 ; 

 Aud. B. of Am. pi. 151 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 2. 



Entire plumage brownish black, darkest on the back and tail above, and with a purplish lustre, many feathers having 

 pale borders. Bill yellowish ; head and netk in living bird bright red. 



Plumage commencing on the neck with a circular ruiif of projecting feathers. Head and upper part of neck naked, or 

 with a few scattering hair-like feathers, and with the skin wrinkled. Nostrils large, oval, communicating with each other ; 

 tail rai her long, rounded. 



Total length about 30 inches, wing 23, tail 12 inches. 



Hah. All of North America, except the Arctic regions. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Aca<l. Philadelphia. 



Specimens from the States and Territories on the Pacific are quite identical with the common 

 bird of the States on the Atlantic. On the Pacific, and throughout a vast extent of the central 

 parts of this republic^ the summer range of this vulture extends northwardly into the British 

 possessions, though in the northeastern States it is rarely seen north of New York. This 

 apparent difi'erence of locality, though at present impossible to be accounted for, may be 

 regarded as fully established by recent observation in the western Territories. 



The turkey vulture is, however, well known to be much more of a southern than a northern 

 species. In the present collection, specimens are from California and Nebraska ; and it appears 

 to have been observed in abundance in New Mexico by the surveying party in charge of Captain 

 John Pope, U. S. Army, all the specimens obtained by which are labelled as collected at the 

 junction of the Pecos and Delaware rivers. New Mexico, June, 1855. 



List of specimens. 



a 



s 

 a 





3825 

 8498 

 4G03 



4983 



4981 

 8497 

 8499 

 I 



Locality. 



Eutaw, Alabama 



Bois de Sioux, Minnesota. 

 Cedar island, Missouri rivei 

 Mouth of Delaware creek, 



Texas 



Moutli of Uclawaro creek, 



Texas 



Matamoras, Mexico 



Fort Steilacooin, W. T — 

 Pttaluina, California 



When collected 



Feb., 1853. 



May 14, 1856. 

 June 14, 1855. 

 June 14, 1865. 



January, 1856. 



Whence obtained. 



Prof. A. Winchell 

 Governor Stevens 

 Lt. G. K. Warren.. 



Captain J. Pope 



Captain J. Pope 



Lieut. Couch 



Govirnor Stevens. . 

 E. Samuels 



17 



98 



99 



102 



Collected by — 



Dr. Suckley 



Dr. Ilayden 



Dr. Bcrlandicre 

 Dr. Suckley ... 



Measurements 



26.50 



27.00 



o .3 



O ..3 

 ^ 4> 



72.0(1 



69.00 



S -3 



20. 50 



21.00 



^Cathartet, Illiger, riodromns, p. 236. 1811. 



