4 U. S. p. K. E. EXP. AND SimVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



Family VULTURIDAE. The Vultures. 



CATHARTES, Illiger. 



CATHARTES AURA. (Linnaeus.) 



The Turkey Bnzzard.—The Turkey Vulture. 



Viillur aura, LixN, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) 

 Calhartes scptmlrionalis, Be Wikd, Reise, I, 162. (1839.) 

 Figures — Catesby, Nat. Hist Carolina I, pi. 6 ; Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. 1, pi. 2 ; Wilson Am. Dm. IX, pi. 75, fig. 1 ; 

 And. B. of Am. pi. 151 : Oct. cd. I, pi. 2. 



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

 pale bo'ders. Bill yellowish ; bead and neck in living bird bright red. 



Plumage commencing on the neck with a circular ruff 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 ra'her long, rounded. 



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



Hab. All of North America, except the Arctic regions. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. 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. 



Locality. 



When collected 



Whence obtained. 



Collected by — 



Measurements 



o .S 



M 



a a 



Eutaw, Alabama 



Bois de Sioux, Minnesota. 

 Cedar island, Missouri rivei 

 Mouth of Delaware creek, 



Texas 



Mouth of Delaware creek, 



Texas 



Matamoras, Mexico 



Fort Steilacoom, W. T... 

 Petaluma, California 



Feb., 1853... 



May 14, 1856. 

 June 14, 1855. 

 June 14, 1855. 



Prof. A. Winchell 

 Governor Stevens.. 

 Lt. G. K. Warren 



17 



Dr. Suckley. 

 Dr. Hay den. 



26.50 



72.00 



20.60 



January, 1856. 



Captain J. Pope 



Captain J. Pope 



Lieut. Couch 



Governor Stevens. . 

 E. Samuels 



98 



99 



102 



Dr. Berlandiere . 

 Dr. Suckley 



27.00 



69.00 



21.00 



^Cathartcs, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 236. 1811. 



