﻿VENEZUELAN ORNITHOLOGY — FRIEDMANN AND SMITH 441 



would follow its "master" wherever he went, running alongside or 

 catching up with him by flying. It would sit by the hour at the col- 

 lector's feet, nibbling at his shoes and uttering the food-begging note, 

 almost inaudibly. 



This species has the curious habit of defecating in such a manner 

 that the feet are constantly bathed with the white liquid excrement, 

 giving the feet and tarsi a whitewashed effect. One can only speculate 

 as to the possible utility of tiiis habit, but it is certain that the birds 

 stand straight up in defecating and seemingly purposely direct the 

 fecal matter to their feet. 



Local name, "zamuro," 



CATHARTES AURA RUFICOLLIS Spix 



Cathartes ruficollis Spix, Avium species novae . . . Brasiliain . . ., vol. 1, 1824, 

 p. 3 (interior of Baliia and Piauhy). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 (?), Cantaura, April 25, 1948; gonads small; iris pale yellow, bill pale flesh, 

 head red, rather bright, nape dull yellow-white, feet light gray, tarsi dull }^ellow; 

 gizzard contained carrion; specimen lacks right wing and right leg, molting 

 rectrices when collected. 



The turkey vultm^e was common throughout the study area and 

 was recorded during every month of the year. It showed preference 

 for the deciduous seasonal woods-edge habitat, although it was en- 

 countered everywhere. As many as 10 individuals could be seen at 

 one time, particularly at favorite roosting places. 



The difference between the feeding habits of the present species 

 and those of the black vulture {Coragyps atratus) is noteworthy. 

 The turkey vulture showed decided preference for small carrion — 

 dead snakes, rabbits, etc. — whereas the black vulture typically fed on 

 large carrion such as dead cattle. Though this was not a fast rule, it 

 did hold true to a remarkable extent. 



The note of this bird was a rather loud aspirate hiss. 



Local names, "olaya" and "oripopo." 



CATHARTES URUBITINGA Pelzeln 



Calhartes uruhiiinga "Natterer" Pelzeln, Sitzungsb. math.-nat. Kl. Akad. 

 Wiss. Wien, vol. 44, 1861, p. 7 (southern and central Brazil). 



SPECIMEN collected 



1 9 , Cantaura, October 10, 1948; gonads small; iris dull red, bill pale flesh, 

 feet black, shading abruptly to pale yellow at "hock" (ankle); gizzard contained 

 carrion; right wing missing. 



The junior author sent with this specimen a careful field sketch of 

 the bird's head indicating the colors of the bare skin. Inasmuch as 

 data of this sort are so seldom recorded in such detail, his drawing 



