42 



CATHARTES AURA (Linnseus.) 



AURA VULTURE. 



The Aui'a Vultui'e, though so much smaller than the 

 preceding sj^ecies, nevertheless much resembles it in general 

 form and appearance. • Though somewhat less abundant and 

 familiar than its congener Cathartes atratus, it is, never- 

 theless a numerous species, and usually frequents the 

 vicinity of human habitations. The Aura Vulture is dif- 

 fused very generally over the continent of North America, 

 where it extends as far northwards as the banks of the Sas- 

 katchewan Eiver in the 53rd degree of north latitude, and as 

 far southwards as Guatemala ; but it is most numerous in the 

 southern portions of its range, and in the more northern locali- 

 ties which it frequents, it only appears as a smnmer visitor. 

 This Vulture is also found in most parts of South America. 

 Mons. D'Orbigny, in his work on the bii'ds of that continent, 

 states that he met with it "in the whole of Brazil, in the re- 

 public of Uruguay, in Patagonia, Paraguay, Chili, Peru, and 

 Bolivia." With reference to the geographical distribution of 

 this Vulture iu South America, I may state that the 

 specimens from British Guiana, Bogota, Ecuador, and Chili, 

 in the Norwich Museum, appear to me to be identical with 

 those from North America ; but it is proper to add that 

 specimens from Chili have been considered by some natm-alists 

 as belonging to a distinct species, and though I do not agree 

 with this view, yet it may be fair to quote in support of it 

 the following passage from the " United States Naval Astrono- 

 mical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere," vol. 2, page 

 173, where Mr. Cassia, who describes the specimens of the 

 Aura brought from Chili under the title of " Cathartes iota 

 (MoUna)," observes, "This species, though nearly related to 

 the North American Cathartes aura, constantly presents cha- 



