302 CATHARTES A URA: 



Tliis fuuiily, in our section, is represented by two genera. The manubrium is smnll, 

 abruptly truncated, and not forked. The furcuhi is stout, much flattened by lateral expan- 

 sion near the base Avhich is moderately wide and produced downward into a A'ery lon.u' [loint, 

 but toward the middle, the bone becomes roumled and the terminal expansion is not very 

 prominent, while the f'urcula near it is not contnicted nor bent downward. The margin;;! 

 indentations are always four, either open or inclosed. The bill is stong, well-curved, with 

 the <;utting edge of upper mandible nearly straight. The tarsus is long, naked for its en- 

 tire length, and is covered with snmll, circular scales. The feet are small and the toes, 

 weak, especially the posterior, and are without grasping power. The wings are long and 

 pointed, and the tail is moderately long. There is no nasal septum. 



GENUS I. CATHARTES. THE NAKED-BKEASTED VULTURES. 



(iFN. On. /?///, short and ihirli. Head and neck, destitute of feathers, and thrre is a ivide nakrd space on the breast. 

 Tail, long and rounded. Sternum, short, not exeeediny licice its width in lenuth. The two outer marginal indentations are 

 enclosed, but the inner are open. Fureula, very xoide at base. 



The sterno-traohealis is; quite thick, but there ave no other laryngeal mu'^oles. Tlie inferior lavynx is -very small, and 

 there are no tyinpanifunu or semilunar membranes, while the lower pinions uf bronchials aro iiiemliraneous. Tlie t:acl-;ii 

 is much flattened throughout. The ospjph.agus is dilated near the middle into a very large crop, and the walls are usually 

 very thin. The proventrieulus is Tery largo, with the walls quite thick, and composed of numei-ous, small, simple, glands, 

 arranged in a zonular band which measures from I-OO to 1-25 in width. Thestomacli is small, somewhat globular inform, 

 with quite thick walls, lined with a hard, rugose membrane. There is a pyloric lobe, -50 in diameter. The fold of the du- 

 odenum is long, measuring from 3'00 to .5-0(l. and incloses a small, irregularly formed pancreas which only occupies a sliort 

 portion of its entire length, near stomach. Cccca, wanting. Both lobes of tlie liver are short, thick, and nearly equal in 

 size. The heart is large and triangular in form. The spleen is an oval-shaped body situated on the proventrieulus. There 

 is hut one species within our limits. 



CATHARTES AURA. 



Turkey Buzzard. 



Catharies aura III., Prod.; 1811, 236. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Sternum, stout, with the keel slightly arched. Tongue, long, fleshy, concave 

 above, and the edges are provided with numerous, hard papillae which point backward. The tip is rounded but not liifid. 

 Sexes, similar in color. 



CoLou. Adult. Uniform dark-brown throughout, with a bluish iridescence on both surfaces, and the feathers of the 

 wings are edged with yellowish-brown and whitish. 



■J ountj. Quite similar to the adult, but with the feathers less iridescent and more generally edged witli whitish, and 

 t!io=e beneath are lighter. 



Nestlings. Are, at first, covered with a dirty-white down, then gradually assume the jdumaL'e last described. Head 

 and neck, flesh color, and covered with short, black hairs, iris, and bill, whitish, feet, pinkish-brown, in all stages. 



• OBSERVATIONS. 



There is a little variation in plumage, some specimens being darker or lighter than the type. This .species may be rec- 

 ognized by the red head and colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, throughout North America, south of 

 latitude 40^; rare north of this point 1/at straggling into New England and even as far north as Canada. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of female specimens from Florida. Length, 27-25; stretch, 75-00; wing, 24-(10; tail, 1-2-23; 

 bill, 1-03; tarsus, 2-50. Longest specimen, 28-25; greatest extent of wing, 73-00; longest wing, 27-00; tail, 12-50; bill, 1- !();_ 

 tarsus, 2-70. Shortest specimen, 20-50; smallest extent of wing, 68-00; shortest wing, 21-00; tail, 1100; bill, 95; tai.sus, 

 2-30. 



