138 CATHARTIDvE : AMERICAN VULTURES. 



to a point on the hind head ; nostrils as before ; tail square. 

 Smaller than aura in linear dimensions, but a heavier bird ; 

 length about 2 feet ; wing, 1.33 ; tail, 0.66. 



This species is of still less frequent occurrence than 

 the last, its normal range in the United States not 

 extending beyond the Carolinas. One was taken in 

 Swampscott, Mass., November, 1850, by Mr. S. Jillson, 

 as given by Mr. F. W. Putnam (Pr. Essex Inst., i, 1856, 

 p. 223). Another at Gloucester, Mass., Sept. 28, 1863, 

 which Mr. J. A. Allen cites (ibid, iv, 1864, p. 81), as he 

 does the capture of one and the observation of several 

 others at Hudson (Am. Nat., iii, 1870, p. 646). Mr. G. 

 A. Boardman speaks of one killed at Calais, Maine (Am. 

 Nat., iii, 1869, p. 498); and Mr. Ruthven Deane gives 

 another Maine record (Campobello, about August, 1879, 

 Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 1880, p. 63). These are the authen- 

 tic cases which have come to our knowledge : for a du- 

 bious Connecticut record, see Merriam, B. Conn., 1877, 

 P- 93- 



