THE IBIS. 



No. III. JULY 1859. 



XXIII. — On the Ornithology of Central America. Part III. 



By Philip Lutley Sclater and Osbert Salvin. 



[Concluded from p. 138.] 



Ordo II. ACCIPITRES. 



Fam. I. VULTURID.E. 



251. Cathartes AURA (Linn.). (N. A.) 



If Mr. Cassin's authority for the occurrence of C. burrovianns 

 at Vera Cruz is good, that bird also doubtless occurs in Guate- 

 mala ; but, as far as we know, it has not yet been observed. All 

 the birds especially noticed by Salvin, presented the characters 

 of the true C. aura of the U.S. 



In this country this Vulture is not nearly so abundant as C. 

 atratus. Leaving to that species all the duties of the scavenger, 

 it frequents the more uncultivated and forest districts. A few 

 may always be seen about the Lake of Duenas. 



253. Cathartes atratus (Bartram). (N. A.) 

 Except perhaps Quiscalus macrurua, this is the most familiar 

 bird in Guatemala. Every town and village has its Zopilotes ; 

 and badly would the inhabitants exist were it not for these 

 diligent scavengers. At night they usually retire to the forest, 

 and in the early morning troop back to their posts in the streets 

 and lanes, and about the tops of the houses and churches. 



They build their nests in the forest, though, in Antigua Gua- 

 temala, it is said that they use the ruins of the old churches for 

 that purpose. 



VOL. I. Q 



