132 SAECOEHAMPHID.E. 



In the north-western part of that country G. papa is rare, but Grayson records the 

 capture of three specimens by a native in the mountains near Acaponeta, about eighty 

 miles south-east of Mazatlan i®. In Guatemala it frequents the coast-regions only, 

 where the species may be observed either soaring high in the air and wheeling in circles 

 during the heat of day or feeding on some putrid carcase, driving off any Black 

 Vulture that ventures to approach. When thoroughly gorged, the bird repairs to a 

 neighbouring tree to digest its meal. The Spanish term for this species, both in 

 Guatemala and in Nicaragua, is " El Rey Zopilote," answering exactly to our " King of 

 the Vultures " 20 23 



In Nicaragua Mr. Richmond ^^ states that the species was frequently observed on 

 the Rio Escondido. He remarks that, occasionally, several were seen in one day, but 

 the birds habitually soar so high that they escape notice. One was secured on the 

 Rio Frio, where it was attracted to the clearing by a large snake killed a few days 

 previously. On approaching the tree where it was about to alight, several Black 

 Vultures hastily fled. Mr. Nutting ^3 says that in Costa Rica the species was 

 somewhat rare near La Palma. 



Mr. Champion informs us that he has seen examples of this species on the plain of 

 David, in Chiriqui, feeding on a small Alligator, and driving off, as usual, the commoner 

 Vultures till they themselves were satisfied. 



CATHARISTA *. 



Catharista, Vieillot, Anal. p. 21 (1816). 



Catharistes, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. i. p. 23 (1874). 



The single species referred to this genus is distinguished from Sarcorhamphus and 

 Gypagus by its smaller size and by the absence of coloured warts or caruncles upon 

 the bare head. The bill is weak, and the cere is longer than the upper mandible. 

 In these respects Catharista is closely allied to Cathartes, but in addition to the black 

 colour of the naked head and neck, the wing is much less pointed, and the flight of 

 the bird is different from that of the red-headed Turkey Vulture. The quills do not 

 reach beyond the middle of the tail, which is square. 



I. Catharista atrata. 



Vultur atratus, Bartram, Trav. p. 289 (1791) '. 



Cathartes atratus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 211 ' ; Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 51 'j Scl. & Salv. Ibis 



1859, p. 213'; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 2°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 303*- 



Duges, La Nat. i. p. 138 " ; ,Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 319 ". 

 Catharista atrata, Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 44 " ; Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. 



* In Salvin's MSS. of the Sarcorhamphid83 he adopted the genus Catharista as distinct from Cathartes and 

 this arrangement has therefore been adhered to, though some prominent ornithologists do not accept this 

 view. — Ed. 



