Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 449 



Genus CATHARTES Illiger. 



149. Cathartes aura septentrionalis (Wied). 

 Turkey Vulture. Turkey Buzzard. 



Distr. : Greater part of North, Central and South America, from 

 New Jersey and British Columbia to Patagonia; accidental in New 

 England. 



Adult: General plumage, sooty brown, the feathers being black, 

 edged with dark grayish brown; head and neck, bare, the skin, red ; 

 bill, brownish white; tail, black, with light brown shafts. 



Immature birds have the head and neck covered with grayish 

 brown, downy feathers. 



Length, 28 to 30; wing, 22 to 24; bill, 2.35. 



The Turkey Buzzard is an abundant resident in southern Illinois. 

 It is rather rare in the northern part of the state, but has been 

 observed on several occasions in the vicinity of Chicago. * Mr. 

 Ruthven Deane informs me he observed a bird of this species at 

 Highland Park. Illinois, on June 28, 1908. It occurs more or less 

 regularly in Wisconsin, and according to- Kumlien and Hollister: 

 "Undoubtedly breeds sparingly in the southwestern part of the state." 

 Mr. Isaac E. Hess informs me he has taken eleven sets of eggs of 

 this species in May and June near Philo, Champaign Co., Illinois. 



In southern Illinois it nests on the ground or on partly hollow 

 logs (some writers claim in stumps of trees). The eggs are usually 

 two, dull white, blotched and spotted with chocolate brown. They 

 measure about 2.75 x 1.90 inches. 



Genus CATHARISTA Vieill. 

 1 50. Catharista urubu (Vieill.) . 

 Black Vulture. Carrion Crow. 



Catharista atrata (Bartr.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 125. 



Distr.: Southern portion of North America, West Indies, Central 

 and greater portion of South America ; breeds in eastern United States 

 from North Carolina and Illinois to the Gulf; accidental in New 

 England. 



Adult: General plumage, black; head and neck, bare, the skin 

 black; under surface of wings tinged with hoary white; shafts of 

 primaries, white; bill, blackish. 



* Dunn, The Auk, 1895, p. 394. Gault, Wilson Bull., No. g, 1896, p. j, etc. 



