346 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



entire Pacific coast of North America, from Lower California to Washington 

 Territory. Mr. Douglas saw vast numbers of this species in Canada, near 

 Sandwich and Lake St. Clair, during their breeding-season. Dr. Eichardson 

 speaks of their having higher sunnner migrations in the interior of the conti- 

 nent than on the Pacific coast, finding it along the banks of the Saskatche- 

 wan, in latitude 55°, late in the month of June. Mr. Say met with them 

 in latitude 59°, and Lewis and Clarke noticed them near the Falls of the 

 Columbia Eiver, in latitude 48°. Mr. Blakiston states that an individual 

 was shot at the Eed Paver Settlement as early as April 27, while the winter's 

 snow was still covering the ground to the depth of a foot and the rivers were 

 ice-bound. He also observed it at Fort Carlton, in latitude 53°, on the 7th 

 of May, and again, on the 2d of September, in latitude 49°. 



Mr. T. H. Jackson, of West Chester, Pa., informs me that this Vulture has 



RMno^yphvs aura. 



been known to breed at Parkersburg, fifteen miles west of the former place, 

 in the summer of 1870, and that they also breed rather plentifully on the 

 banks of the Susquehanna, laying their eggs, two in number, in caves among 

 the rocks, as early as the 10th of April, and that some remain in that 

 vicinity all winter. 



Dr. Cooper mentions their great abundance during the summer in all parts 

 of Washington Territory, frequenting the vicinity of prairies and river-banks, 

 but never appearing along the coast. They arrive at Puget Sound about 

 the middle of May, and undoubtedly breed in the Territory. Dr. Suckley 



