CATHARTID^ — THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 



491 



of the State, however, it appears to be more or less rare. Mr. 

 Nelson, in his list of the birds of Cook county {Bull. Essex Inst. 

 VIII., 1876, p. 120) says: 



"A very irregular and rare visitant in this vicinity. Sixty miles 

 south it is a common summer resident, yet I know of but very 

 few instances of its occurrence here. A specimen was captured, 

 after a snow storm, late in autumn, several years since at Wauke- 

 gan, by Mr. Charles Douglas." 



In the vicinity of Mt. Carmel it is very abundant, many pairs 

 breeding in hoUow trees, mostly old sycamores, in the river bot- 

 toms, especially in the vicinity of the cypress swamps. 



"The flight of the Turkey Buzzard," says Dr. Brewer,* "is grace- 

 ful, dignified and easy. It sails with a steady, even motion, with 

 wings just above the horizontal position, with their tips slightly 

 raised. They rise from the ground with a single bound, give a few 

 flaps to their wings, and then proceed with their peculiar, soaring 

 flight. They rise very high in the air, moving round in large cir- 

 cles. They are of gregarious habits, and usually associate in com- 

 panies of from ten to a much larger number. They feed upon all 

 kinds of animal food, and are accused by Audubon of sucking eggs 

 and devouring the young of Herons and other birds. Yet in Trini- 

 dad they were observed by Mr. E. C. Taylor associating with the 

 poultry, apparently upon the most amicable terms, ■and, although 

 surrounded with chickens of all sizes, they were never known to 

 molest them. Mr. Audubon also states that they devour birds of 

 their own species when dead. They are said to walk well on the 

 ground and on the roofs of houses, and associate and even roost 

 in company with the Black Vulture." 



Genus CATHARISTA Vieillot. 



Catharista YtETLij. Analyse. ISlti. 21. Type (by eUminatioQ)= TuHtir urtibu Vieill. 

 V. atratus Bartk. 



Gen. Chak. Size of Calhartes, but more robust, with shorter wings, and very differ- 

 ent flight. Wings witli the remiges abbreviated, the primaries scarcely reaching to the 

 middle of the tail. Tail even, or faintly emarginatod. Head and upper portion of the 

 neck nailed, the feathers extending farther up behind than in front; nalced sliin of the 

 side of the neck transversely corrugated; no bristles before the eye. Nostril narrow, 

 occupying only about the posterior half of the nasal orifleo, its anterior end contracted 

 and acute. Cere not contracted anteriorly, but the upper and lower outline parallel; 

 much depressed, or broader than deep. Plumage beginning gradually with normal, or 

 broad and rounded, feathers. Fourth or Ilfth quiU longest; outer Ave with inner webs 

 sinuated. Tarsus longer than middle toe. 



• Biat. N, Am. B. lil, pp. 347-349. 



