4 
U. S. P. R. E. EXP. .AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 
Family VULTURIDAE. The Vultures. 
CATHARTES, Illiger. 
CATHARTES AUEA. (LinDaeus.) 
The Turkey Buzzard— The Turkey Vulture. 
Vulturaura, Likn, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) 
Cathartes septentriortalis, De Wied, Beise, I, 162. (1839.) 
Figures — Catesby, Nat. Hist Carolina I, pi. 6 ; Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. 1, pi. 2 ; Wilson Am. Orn. IX, pi. 75, fig. 1 ; 
And. B. of Am. pi. 151 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 2. 
Entire plumage brownish black, darkest on the back and tail above, and with a purplish lustre, many feathers having 
pale borders. Bill yellowish ; head and neck in living bird bright red. 
Plumage commencing on the neck with a circular ruff of projecting feathers. Head and upper part of neck naked, or 
with a few scattering hair-like feathers, and with the skin wrinkled. Nostrils large, oval, communicating with each other ■ 
tail ra-her long, rounded. 
Total length about 30 inches, wing 23, tail 12 inches. 
Hab. All of North America, except the Arctic regions. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. 
Specimens from the States and Territories on the Pacific are quite identical with the common 
bird of the States on the Atlantic. On the Pacific, and throughout a vast extent of the central 
parts of this republic, the summer range of this vulture extends northwardly into the British 
possessions, though in the northeastern States it is rarely seen north of New York. This 
apparent difference of locality, though at present impossible to be accounted for, may be 
regarded as fully established by recent observation in the western Territories. 
The turkey vulture is, however, well known to be much more of a southern than a northern 
species. In the present collection, specimens are from California and Nebraska ; and it appears 
to have been observed in abundance in New Mexico by the surveying party in charge of Captain 
John Pope, U. S. Army, all the specimens obtained by which are labelled as collected at the 
junction of the Pecos and Delaware rivers, New Mexico, June, 1855. 
List of specimens. 
Measurements 
Catalogue number. 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
When collected 
Whence obtained. 
Original number. 
Collected by — 
Point of bill to end 
of tail. 
Between tips of out- 
stretched wings. 
Wing from carpal 
joint. 
3825 
Eutaw, Alabama 
Feb., 1853... 
Prof. A. Winch ell 
8498 
Bois de Sioux, Minnesota. 
Governor Stevens.. 
17 
Dr. Suckley 
4603 
Cedar island, Missouri rivei 
May 14, 1856. 
Lt. G. K. Warren 
Dr. Hay den 
26. 50 
72. 00 
20. 50 
Mouth of Delaware creek, 
4983 
June 14, 1855. 
Captain J. Pope . . . 
98 
Mouth of Delaware creek, 
4981 
8497 
8499 
1 
Texas 
June 14, 1855. 
Captain J. Pope . . . 
Lieut. Couch 
99 
Dr. Berlandiere . 
Fort Steilacoom, W. T 
Governor Stevens. . 
102 
Dr. Suckley 
3 
Petalnma, California. .... 
January, 1856. 
27. 00 
69. 00 
21. 00 
| 
1 Catharks, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 236. 1811. 
