RAPTORES. 



73 



bare space may be a character dependent on age, as in numerous other 

 species of birds. In the pknnage alluded to, this bird is Catliartes 

 vtdtwinus, Temm., as above cited. It will be seen below, that Mr. 

 Peale attributes this variation to age exclusively. 



The following memoranda, also relating to this species, we introduce 

 from Mr. Peale : 



" This cannot be considered a common bird in Oregon. We first 

 saw it on the plains of the Willamette River, but subsequently observed 

 that it was much more numerous in California, from the fact that the 

 carcasses of large animals are more abundant, which this bird certainly 

 prefers to the dead fishes on which it is obliged to feed in Oregon and 

 all the countries north of the Spanish settlements in California. Pre- 

 cisely the same change takes place from youth to maturity, in this 

 species, which is known to take place in the turkey buzzard [Cathartes 

 aura), the young having black or brownish heads, which become red 

 as they grow older." 



2. Cathartes aura {Linn.). — The Turkey Buzzard. 



Vn/tur aura, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 122 (176G). 



Cathartes septentrional! s, De WiED, Reise, I, p. 162 (1839). 



Cat. Car. I, Plate VI; Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate II; Wilson, 

 Am. Orn. IX, Plate LXXV, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CLI ; Oct. 

 ed. I, Plate II. 



A fine specimen, from Oregon, is in the collection of the Expedition. 

 It is absolutely identical with the common turkey buzzard of the States 

 on the Atlantic seaboard, and the species may therefore be regarded as 

 inhabiting the entire temperate and warmer regions of North America. 



In Dr. Pickering's notes we find this vulture frequently mentioned, 

 as having been of common occurrence at points visited in Western 

 North America, particularly in California. 



Mr. Peale states that this bird is " quite common in Oregon and 

 California." 



3. Cathartes jota [Molina). — The Turkey Buzzard of South 



America. 



Vulturjota, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782), 2d edit. p. 220 (1810). 



