4 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
Family VULTURIDAE. The Vultures. 
CATHARTES, Illiger. 
CATHARTES AURA. (Linnaeus.) 
The Turkey Buzzard.=--The Turkey Vulture. 
Vultur aura, Lixn, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) 
Cathartes septentrionalis, De Wixp, Reise, I, 162. (1839.) 
Ficurres.—Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina I, pl. 6; Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. 1, pl. 2; Wilson Am. Orn. IX, pl. 75, fig. 1; 
Aud. B. of Am. pl. 151: Oct. ed. I, pl. 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 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 difference 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. 8. 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. 
Measurements 
ate so + = 
2 3 3/8 6) s 
3 oi Locality. When collected | Whence obtained. |g | Collected by— | $ 5.2) 6s 
o = a 43 
Se el a SBl|s3/88 
Ep “g) Ss tots 8 = 6.2 
ic) a A #55 o bo 
io Ss oo A=| Bela 
Ss a = 3 8.5 |. 
Ss) Wee i.) aa ea) = 
3825 |..--| Hutaw, Alabama -----.-- INA Boo | EOE HAS ype nO Rsk Se5 ees seosecese| basco eseatelee sons 
8498 |....| Bois de Sioux, Minnesota-_|-------------- Governor Stevens=-| 17) Dr: Suckleyoo==2|-— -see|===-==|s2see 
4603 |----| Cedarisland, Missouri river) May 14, 1856-} Lt. G. K. Warren__|---.| Dr. Hayden-.-.-- 26. 50) 72.00) 20.50 
| Mouth of Delaware creek, 
4983° eee Texase cee... ee Vuneg4 18h5a|iCaptaintdss Popes) eo Onl neta iaiste etal ete es Sete | an | etal 
| Mouth of Delaware creek, 
AGS aiesae MOXaS eens inc sce cies June 14, 1855.| Captain J. Pope ---| 99 |---------------- [See Sclca=nes| boeeee 
8497 |..-.| Matamoras, Mexico. =----|-=s=—2=—=--- —- Lieut. Couch.-..-- Eee Oreperlandiere | me eee | See see 
SER) aaa)! toa Sinelereoyern, \iio MUSE eS eee ee Governor Stevens--|102 | Dr. Suckley .---|------]------]------ 
3 | Petaluma, California- ---- January, 1856-| E. Samuels ------- |----|+22+2----------- | 27. 00) 69.00) 21.00 
1 Cathartes, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 236. 1811. 
