CATHARTID^ — THE AMEEICAN VULTUKE9. 



489 



CathartjdsB. Nostrils horizontal, perforate; a well-developed web between the Inner 

 and middle toes, at the base. 



Vnlturinae, Nostrils vertical, not perforate; no trace of web between inner and 

 middle toes. 



In habits, as before stated, the Cathartkke resembles the vulturine 

 Falconidce of the Old World. "They lack the strength and spirit of 

 typical Raptores, and rarely attack animals capable of offermg re- 

 sistance ; they are voracious and indiscriminate gormandizers of 

 carrion and animal refuse of all sorts, — efficient and almost indis- 

 pensable scavengers in the warm countries where they abound. They 

 are uncleanly in their mode of feeding; the nature of their food 

 renders them ill-scented, and when disturbed they eject the fetid 

 contents of the crop. Although not truly gregarious, they assemble 

 in multitudes where food is plenty, and some species breed in com- 

 munities. When gorged, they appear heavy and indisposed to ex- 

 ertion, usually passing the period of digestion motionless, in a list- 

 less attitude, with their wings half spread. But they spend most 

 of the time on the wing, circling high in the air ; their flight is easy 

 and graceful in the extreme, and capable of being indefinitely pro- 

 tracted. On the ground, they habitually walk instead of progress- 

 ing by leaps. Possessing no vocal apparatus, the Vultures are 

 almost mute, emitting only a weak hissing sound." (Coues.) j 



The Cathartidce all belong to the tropical and warm-temperate 

 portions of the continent, only one species {Cathartes aura) extend- 

 ing its range as far as the border of the colder regions. The 

 famous Condor {Sarcorhamphus gryphm) of the Andes and the 

 equally large Cahfornian species {Pseudogryphus californianus) are 

 amongst the largest birds of ffight in the world, being exceeded in 

 size by none, and rivaled by but one or two of the Vultures of 

 the eastern hemisphere. 



The two genera having representatives in eastern North America 

 (both of them found in Illinois) may be readily distinguished by 

 the following characters : 



1. Cathartes. Nostril occupying the whole of the nasal cavity, its anterior end 

 broadly rounded; cere decidedly arched on top, its upper and lower outlines 

 divergent basally ; mandible much less deep than the maxilla; skin of neck with- 

 out corrugations, but that of the head usually with irregular papilla in front of 

 eye and on crown (these wanting in the young). Wing long, the primaries reach- 

 ing to or beyond end of the rather long, much rounded. t<iil. 



2. Catharista. Nostril occupying only the posterior half of the nas.il fossae, its an- 

 terior end contracted and acute; cere depressed and not perceptibly arched, much 

 broader than deep, its upper and lower outUnos parallel; maxilla and mandible 

 about equal in depth. Skin of neck transversely corrugated or wrinkled. Wing 

 short, the primaries scarcely reaching to the middle of the short, truncate or 

 slightly emarginated taiL 



