RAPTORES. 



83 



Hab. — The entire temperate regions of North America. Specimen 

 in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia, and Nat. Mus. Washington. 



Obs. — This is the only vulture that ventures into the Middle and 

 Northern States of North America, in which, however, it may be stated 

 to inhabit the entire temperate regions. It is abundant everywhere 

 south of the State of Delaware, and of frequent occurrence in Pennsyl- 

 vania, New Jersey, and Ohio, though much more rare in all the North- 

 eastern States. On the Pacific, it is abundant at a higher latitude than 

 on the Atlantic. Occasionally, it strays as far north as the British Pos- 

 sessions, being given by Mr. David Douglas, as a bird seen by him in 

 Canada, and by Sir John Richardson, as noticed at Lake Winipeg. 



In the Southern States of this Union, the turkey buzzard is so common 

 as to be an almost constant feature in the landscape, and by no means 

 timid nor shy of man, though not so tame and familiar in its habits as 

 the black vulture. It occasionally rears its young in New Jersey and 

 Pennsylvania, and probably in more northern States. 



4. Cathaetes jota {Molina). — The Turkey Vulture of South 



America. 



Vultur jota, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782). 

 Cathartes rujicollis, Spix, Av. Bras. 



Voy. Vincennes and Peacock, Orn. Plate I. 



Very similar to C. aura, but rather smaller and more slender. Wings 

 and legs rather long ; tail moderate, not so long as in C. aura. Plu- 

 mage commencing on the neck with a rutf of projecting feathers, scarcely 

 as well defined nor with the feathers so long as in the northern species ; 

 nostrils large, oval, communicating with each other; naked skin of head 

 wrinkled, or with somewhat regular folds, especially on the occiput. 



Entire plumage brownish-black, with purple or bluish lustre on the 

 upper parts, and many feathers edged with brownish; lower parts clear 

 black. Under surface of wings and tail paler ; shafts of quills brown 

 above, white beneath. Head and neck red ; bill yellowish-white. 



Total length about twenty-six inches ; wing twenty inches ; tail 

 ten inches. 



