NORTHWESTERN MEXICO. 303 



198. Pandion halicetus var. carolinensis (Gm.). 



" carolinensis Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv., p. 268. 



Colima, Xantus ; Tres Marias, Grayson. 



« I discovered the nest on a rock adjacent to the shore of the northern Marias Island, with young in it, and 

 another nest in a cactus ; it is quite common about Mazatlan." 



199. Polyhorus tharus var. audubonii Cass. 



" audubanii Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv., p. 268. 



Mazatlan, Tres Marias, Grayson ; Colima, Xantus. 



" In general appearance this resembles some of the larger hawks, and although it subsists principally on 

 dead animals and other offal, it, however, does sometimes capture young or disabled birds, lizards, snakes and . 

 land crabs. It generally canies off its prey in the beak, but I have also frequently seen it using the claws for 

 that purpose, as the hawks do. It walks with tacility on the ground, and may often be met in the thick 

 woods walking about in search of reptiles, etc., with as much ease as an ambulatory fowl. 



«It is sluggish in its habits, and rather docile, frequenting the vicinity of towns and ranches, often in com- 

 pany with the Black Vulture, with whom it performs no inconsiderable part as a scavenger. 



" I found the Caracara quite abundant on the Tres Marias Islands ; in the vicinity of Mazatlan it is a very 

 common species, and, in fact, all parts of Western Mexico that I have visited. After gorging themselves 

 with offal they sit perched for hours upon a branch of a tree, or the thorny tip of a cactus|( bringing to mind 

 the supposition that this may be the celebrated eagle of the Montezumas, now the escutcheon of the Mexican 

 banner. 



" The nest of the Caracara is generally placed on trees, and sometimes said to be on rocky cliffs. One 

 which I discovered, and had a fair opportunity of examining, was built on the huge branches of the giant 

 cactus, about fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. The nest was large and loosely built, of coarse dry twigs, 

 and lined with grass and leaves ; it contained three eggs, which were nearly ready to be hatched ; they were 

 about the size of a domestic hen's egg ; the ground color a dirty white with numerous large blotches of red- 

 dish-brown and small irregular spots, more confluent around the larger end." 



Fam. VuLTUEiD^. 



200. Sarcoramphus papa (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" Three specimens of this species were captured in the mountains near Acaponetti, about eighty miles 

 southeast of Mazatlan ; the only place it seems in which they have been discovered in Northwestern Mexico. 

 The three individuals were captured in this locality through the ingenuity of an old native Indian. One 

 died (fortunately for me) after reaching Mazatlan ; it was a good specimen, and a female.'' 



201. Gathartes aura (Linn.). 



" " Proc. Bost. Soc. of ~N. H., XIV., p. 267. 



Mazatlan, Tres Marias, Grayson ; Colima, Xantus. 



" This is veiy numerous in Western Mexico, and I found it as far south as Tehuantepec, and in the Tres 

 Marias. They seem to be constantly engaged upon the mission for which a wise dispensation of Providence 

 has intended them, that of passing in large circles at a moderate height, seeking out and devouring the pu- 

 trid bodies of animals, offal; and other filth, which would breed a pestilence were it not for such agencies as 

 the Turkey Buzzard and its coadjutors." 



202. Cathartes atratus (Bartram). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



" It may be met with in all Mexico, but is more common in the tierras calientes. They are gregarious at 

 all seasons of the year, associating in considerable flocks, and when one of their number discovers a dead car- 



