90 CATHARTID^:. 



Hab. Eastern U.S., and Central and Southern America to Chili and 

 the Rio Negro of Patagonia. 



According to Dr. Burmeister the Black Vulture is found throughout 

 the Argentine Pampas, but is commoner in the east and north. It is 

 know as the " Gallinazo " at Mendoza, and " Cuervo " in Tucuman. 

 Mr. Barrows tells us that he did not see it during his residence at Con- 

 cepcion, but was told of its former abundance in times of drought, when 

 dead sheep were numerous. It was, however, met with by him in small 

 numbers during his excursion through the Sierras of the Pampas south 

 of Buenos Ayres. 



On the Rio Negro of Patagonia I found these Vultures abundant, 

 especially near the settlement of El Carmen, where, attracted by the 

 refuse of the cattle-slaughtering establishments, they congregated in 

 immense numbers, and were sometimes seen crowded together in 

 thousands on the trees, where they roosted. Darwin observed them at 

 the same place, and has described their soaring habits at considerable 

 length. 



The following account of the nesting-habits of this species is given 

 by Mr. John J. Dalgleish (Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinb. vi. p. 237) : 

 "The eggs seldom, if ever, exceed two in number, and are usually 

 laid in a hollow tree or on the ground. Their average weight 

 is about a pound. They are slightly larger than those of the 

 Turkey-Buzzard, although the latter is a bigger bird. The ground- 

 colour is of a yellowish white, with blotches of dark reddish brown, 

 and smaller markings of a lilac shade. These markings are generally 

 more numerous at the larger end." 



313. SARCORHAMPHUS GRYPHUS (Linn.). 

 (GREAT CONDOR.) 



Sarcorhamphus gryphus, Darwin, Zool. Beagle, iii. p. 1 (Rio Negro) ; Scl et 

 Salv. Nomencl. p. 123 ; Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 433 (Cordova) ; Durnford, 

 Ibis, 1877, p. 40 (Chupat), et 1878, p. 398 (Central Patagonia). 



Description. General plumage glossy black ; greater wing-coverts margined 

 with ashy ; neck-ruff white ; head, neck, and centre of chest bare ; head, with 

 a large caruncle, black ; throat wattled ; chest with a pendent wattle : whole 

 length 38-0 inches, wing 29-0, tail 14-0. Female similar, but without the wattles 

 on the head and neck. 



Hab. Andes of South America, and adjacent ranges in La Plata. 

 Dr. Burmeister tells us that he has seen the Condor in the Sierras of 



