CORAGYPS. CATHARTES. 211 



Mr. Lloyd Price (Timehri (2) v. p. 65) writes : — " In newlr-ciit 

 cane-fields the common species of Black Vulture ( Cathartes atratus) 

 lays her two eggs, which are often found on the trash-banks, and 

 near the roots of old stumps. The eggs are of a dirty white pro- 

 fusely spotted with dark brown. The young of this bird are 

 seldom seen : thev are of a light bluish or brownish grev colour." 



Mr. Quelch (Timehri (2) v. p. 103) observed this species at 

 Georgetown, and remarks : — " The common Black-head or so- 

 called Carrion Crow (Cathartes atrata) may be seen at almost anv 

 time, in the streets, on the coco-nut or other high trees, on the 

 tops of the houses, or circling overhead." 



Mr.C. A. Lloyd (Timehri (2) xi. p. 10, 1897) remarks on the habits 

 of this species : — "" During the breeding-season large numbers of 

 young Egrets fall a prey to the black Carrion Vulture, Catha- 

 rista atrata, which may be seen hovering around the breeding- 

 grounds, on the look out for a chance to swoop down on some 

 unguarded nest and carrv off its contents. The old birds vigor- 

 ously defend their nests against the attacks of the Vulture, but as 

 the Scarlet Ibis appears on the scene, they immediately desert 

 their charges and fly away.*' 



Mr. Beebe (Our Search for a Wilderness, p. 121) observes : — 

 ''Just before dusk scores of the smiU Black Vultures appear, 

 flying singly^ or in twos and threes, low over the trees and paluis 

 westward to some general roost." 



Genus CATHAETES Illig. 



Cathartes Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. et Av. p. 23G, ISll. Type 

 C. aura (Linn.). 



The members of this genus have shorter bills, not depressed at 

 the Ijase, the nostrils oval in shape and placed towards the tip 

 of the bill. The head and neck, which are naked, are red, orange, 

 or yellow in colour, without corrugations or .skin-folds. Tiie tail 

 is rounded. 



132. Cathartes ruficoUis. 

 Red-neckkd Turkey- Vi'LTLHE. 



Cathartes ritficoUis Spi.x, A v. Bi-a.s. i. j). 2, 1824 (Baliiu). 



Cathartes urabititu/a Pelz. Sitzb. Ak. Wien, xliv. p. 7, 1801 (Soutii and 

 Central Brazil); C^mlch, Timehri (2) iv. p. 11-4, 1890 (Demeraiu 

 Falls) ; id. op. cit. v. p. Iu3, 1891 (Georgetown) ; Beebe, Our 



P 2 



