BIRDS. 173 



This species, thougli nearly related to the North American Cathartes aura, constantly pre- 

 sents characters very prohably sufficient to constitute specific distinction. It is apparently, or 

 so far as can he ascertained from prepared specimens, a more slender bird, and longer in all its 

 measurements. The last character is particularly ajDplicahle to the wings. 



Of several specimens of this Vulture in the collection of the Expedition, those labelled as 

 females are invariably the smaller. This character distinctive of the sexes we are disposed to 

 regard as prevailing throughout the family of Vultures, as previously mentioned by us, in 

 "Illustrations of the Birds of California and Texas," I, p. 113 ; in this respect differing from 

 the family Falconidte, in which the female is the larger. 



This Vulture is of common occurrence in Chile, and resorts to the seacoast in l^rge numbers 

 for the purpose of feeding on dead fishes and other marine animals. 



CATHAETES ATEATUS, (Bartram.) 



Vultur atratus, Barteam, Travels, 1791, 289. 

 Vultur urubu, Vibill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. 180*7, 53, PI. ii. 

 Cathartes urubu, (Vieill.) Gat, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 200. 

 VuLG. Black Vulture. Jotecillo. Gallinazo. 

 Figures. — Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, PI. Ixxv, Fig. 2. 

 " Abd. B. of Am. PL cvi; oct. ed. I, PL iii. 



A single specimen in mature plumage and excellent condition is exactly identical in size and 

 other characters with the common species of the southern parts of North America. It is the 

 only specimen presenting this similarity that we have ever seen from South America, and is 

 larger and in other respects different from the allied Cathartes brasiliensis, which is an inhab- 

 itant also of that division of this continent. 



This species is not abundant in Chile, though represented to he occasionally met with in the 

 interior. 



POLYBOEUS THAEUS, (Molina.) 



Falco tharus, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. del Chile, 1782. 

 Falco cheriway, Jacqtjin, Beytr. Gesch. der Vog. 1784, 17. 

 Falco brasiliensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 262. 

 Polyborus vulgaris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. V, 1816, 257. 

 Caracara vulgaris, (Vieill.) (xax, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 207. 

 VuLG. Caracara Eagle, Traro. 

 Figures. — Jacquin, Vog. PL iv. 

 " Vieill. G-al. I, PL vii. 



" Spex. B. of Birds, I, PL i. 



" AuD. B. of Am. PL clxi; oct. ed. I, PL iv. 



" SwAiNSON, Zool. 111. I, PL ii. 



" Gay's Chile, Orn. PL i. 



Abundant, and for the greater part exhibiting the characters of a Vulture. 

 Lieutenant Gilliss observes of this bird: "Exceedingly numerous throughout central and 

 southern Chile. It is constantly found along the roads and wherever there is a chance of ob- 

 taining a particle of flesh or offals. At the annual slaughtering of cattle, they congregate by 

 hundreds, and remain without the corral awaiting their share of the rejected parts. It is so 

 tame from being little molested, that it may he taken with the lasso, but when captured will 

 fight desperately. When provoked in captivity it utters a noise not unlike that of the male 

 Turkey, though much more shrill, and ends by throwing the head back, closing the eyes in 

 impotent wrath. No amount of kindness or attentive treatment reconciles it to deprivation of 

 liberty." 



