2 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



GENUS CATHARTES. Illiger. 



Bill elongated, straight at the base : upper mandible covered to the middle by the cere. 

 Nostrils contiguous, medial, oblong, pervious, naked. Tongue concave in the middle ; the 

 edges serrate. Tarsus short, stout. Middle toe longest; lateral ones equal; hind toe 

 very small. Claws stout, arched. Wings very large ; third, fourth and fifth primaries 

 longest. 



THE TURKEY BUZZARD. 



Cathartes aura. 



plate v. fig. 18. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Mam.) 



Vultur aura. Wilson, Am. Ornith. Vol. 9, p. 96, pi. 75, fig. 1. 



Cathartes aura. Temminck, Man. d'Orn. Ed. 2, Vol. 1, p. 48. 



C. id. Bonap. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Vol. 2. p. 23. 



Turkey Buzzard. Not-tall, Manual Orn. U. S. Vol. 1, p. 43. Audcbon, PI. 151 ; Ornith. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 296 ; 



Vol. 5, p. 339. 

 Red-headed Turkey Vulture. Id. Birds of America, Vol. 1, p. 15, pi. 2 (male and young). 

 Turkey Vulture or Turkey Buzzard. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 1. 



Characteristics. Black. Head and neck red. Neck feathered equally all round. Wings 

 not extending beyond the tail, which is rounded. Young, dark brown, 

 with the wing-coverts and secondaries spotted with white. 



Description. Cutting margin of the upper mandible undulated. Nostrils large, oblong- 

 elliptic, nearer the ridge of the mandible than to the cutting edge. Third and fourth prima- 

 ries longest. Tarsus covered with small rounded convex scales. Naked portion of the neck 

 extending to the breast bone, sprinkled with a few short black hairs. Legs feathered to the 

 knees. 



Color. Black or deep blackish brown ; darkest on the neck, breast and belly ; glossed 

 above with green and bronze. Eyes dark hazel. The wrinkled skin on the neck behind 

 covered with black down. Bill white towards the tip. 



Length, 30-0-32-0. Extent of wings, 72 • - 76 • 0. 



The Turkey Buzzard, the well known scavenger of our southern cities, is exceedingly rare 

 in this State. The southern part of New-Jersey is the most northerly breeding place of the 

 Turkey Buzzard along the Atlantic coast. Previous to the establishment of a railroad be- 

 tween New-York and Philadelphia, one might, at any time in July or August, have seen flocks 

 of these birds attracted thither by the carcases of horses which had fallen victims to the rivalry 

 between stage-coach proprietors. I have seen them upon several occasions at South- Amboy, 



