350 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Tlie Ibllowiug are tlie ]iro])fntinii,s of tniir s]»eciinfiis, wliicli will represent 

 their xismil variations: l!.8l inches by l.!)4; 'I.l'i 1)V 1.H7 ; 2.04 liy 1.87; 

 2M'2 hy 1.!I4. These were from New .lersey, South C'aroliim, Louisiana, and 

 Taniaulipas (MexieoJ. The more common varieties have a j,n'ouncl of a 

 light cream-eolor, marked with large eonfluent spots of reddish-l)rown or 

 chocolate, chietly ])reilominating at the largi-r end, Inil ;ilso sparsely scattered 

 over the entire egg. liitermi.xed with these are le.ss im ([ueiit markings of a 

 ligiit purj)lisii or lilac shade of drab. These are often so faint as only to be 

 perceptible on a close examination. An egg taken some years since in Xew 

 Jersey, by Alexander Wilson, and somewhat faded, is marked over the en- 

 tire shell with conlluent s]K)ts of a dark greenish-brown, with no ])erceptible 

 shades of red or purple. Another variety from Ciieraw, S. ('., has a ground 

 of nearly pure wiiito, is very nearly uns])otted, and is only marked with a 

 few small dots and lines of retl and indistinct purple at the larger end. 



Oenus CATHARISTA, Vikii.lot. 



Calharistd, \[FM.i.. 1810. (Type, Viiltni- utmtiis, li.viiTu.v.M.) 

 CniYii/u/iiis, I. (iKoFFUciV, 18r>4. 

 Ciillidrks, Arur. (in |)uitK 



Okx. CirAi!. .'^ize of Fihi'nnf/ri/jifiiis, hut more robust, willi sliortcr win<rs, .tlid very dif- 

 fcri'iit lliirlit. Wiurrs with liio rciiiii;!'.'! iiliiircviatcd. tlic itriiuarios soaioclj' roncliinp to the 



middle of tilt! tail. Tail even, or laiiitly eiiiaiffiuatod. Iload 

 and upper portion of IIk! nci/k naked, the feather.s extendin<r 

 f'artlier up l>eliin<l tliaii in trout; naked skiu of llie .side of 

 the neck transversely (•orru,i;ale(l ; no lii'Istles liefore the eye. 

 Nostril narrow, occupying: only about the posterior half of 

 the nasal oriliee, its anterior end eonti-acted and aeiite. Cere 

 not eoutraeted anteriorly, lint the np))er and lower outline 

 I parallel; much depre.«,sed, or broader than deep. Plumage 

 befriiniinrr gradually on the neek with normal, or broad and 

 Cnihnrhin ntrnta. '., imt. sine. rounded, feathers. Fourth or (ifth qnill longest; outer five 



with inner webs sinuated. Tarsus longer than middle toe. 



This well-marked genus is composed of a single s])ecies, which is confined 

 to the tropical and warm temperate portions of America. The dill'erence 

 frftm the othcsr Vultures which this bird exhilnts in its habits, and especially 

 in its flight, is ve.y striking, and furnishes additional characters distinctive 

 of the genus. 



