NO. I AVIFAUNA OF PANAMA — VVETMORE 3 



? Vultur iitbis-incola "Riccord," Cassin, U. S. Expl. Exped., Mamni. and 

 Ornith., 1858, p. 81. (Based on Des Murs, 1853, above.) 



Characters. — Size small ; light markings on underside of primaries 

 more extensive and clearer white; wing J* (17 specimens) 386-410 

 (401) ; $ (23 specimens) 388-413 (400). 



Resident in the tropical zone ; in Mexico, along the Pacific coast 

 from southern Sonora (Camoa on the lower Rio Mayo), and on the 

 eastern side from southern San Luis Potosi (Bledos, Xilitla) south- 

 ward throughout Central America ; and in South America on the 

 west to the coastal region of Peru (Lima), and on the east to the 

 lowlands of Bolivia (Buenavista, Santa Cruz), and southern Brazil. 



The southern limit from the material seen is uncertain but appears 

 to include most of Brazil. The small size is constant throughout this 

 vast range. It appears desirable to pinpoint restriction of type locality 

 from that proposed by von Berlepsch to Rio de Janeiro in the south- 

 ern part of that great country. Two specimens in the U. S. National 

 Museum from the Federal District are typical in small size. It is 

 possible that the next race may be found along the far southern 

 boundary since this is the form of Paraguay. 



With regard to tgg size in this race, Colonel Wolfe writes that 

 7 eggs (in 4 sets) in his collection from Trinidad average 70.1 X49.4 

 mm. A set of 2 in U. S. National Museum, collected at Lagoa Santo, 

 Minas Gerais, by E. G. Holt, measures 70.4x48.4 and 68.6x48.8 

 mm. These figures are definitely less than those listed above for the 

 typical race. 



Cathartes iirhicola of Des Murs (1853, p. 153), listed in the 

 synonymy above, is based on an account of "le Catharte citadin" 

 given by Ricord to Lesson and published by the latter in the second 

 edition of his Complements de Buffon (Lesson, 1838, p. 93). The 

 bird described by Ricord is a composite based in part on the black 

 vulture, and in part on the turkey vulture, but with the size of a 

 condor as it is said to be 48 inches tall. It is described as inhabiting 

 the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, Trinidad, and on the 

 Orinoco, where it was protected by the authorities as a scavenger. 

 Lesson in a footnote gave it the name "Cathartes {vultur) urhis 

 incola, Ricord," which was cited by Des Murs (p. 147) as "Cathartes 

 urhis incola (Ricord) Lesson." Cassin (1858, p. 81) lists this under 

 Cathartes urbicola Des Murs as "Vultur urbis-incola, Riccord." Des 

 Murs also in the original citation wrote ricordi as an alternate name, 

 his statement being as follows: "Jusque-la nous croyons devoir 

 proposer pour le nom de ce Catharte, en tant qu'on le maintiendrait 



