2 
VULTURIN^. CATHARTES. 
angle long and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending 
and slightly convex, the back broad, the edges sharp, to- 
wards the end decurved. Nostrils oblong, large, pervious. 
Head oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its 
edges serrate with reversed papillae. CEsophagus dilated 
into an enormous crop ; stomach moderately muscular ; 
duodenum convoluted. Head and upper part of neck de- 
nuded, being only sparingly covered with very short down. 
Wings very long and extremely broad ; third, fourth, and 
fifth primaries longest, first much shorter. Tail of moderate 
length, nearly even. Tarsus short, rather stout, roundish, 
reticulate. Hind toe very small, second a little shorter than 
fourth, third very long, all scutellate for more than half their 
length. Claws strong, arched, compressed, obtuse. 
1. 1. Cathartes Californianus, Lath. Californian Turkey- 
V ulture . — T urkey -Buzzard. 
Plate CCCCXXVI. Adult. 
Nostrils small, elliptical, occupying only the posterior half of the 
nasal groove ; feathers of the ruff and breast lanceolate and acuminate ; 
primaries finely acuminate, fourth and fifth longest ; tail rather short, 
even. Adult with the head hare and yellowish-red, the plumage 
brownish-black, the secondaries grey, tipped with white, their coverts 
large, tipped with the same. Young with the head downy and dusky, 
the plumage blackish-brown, the feathers edged with light brown, the 
secondary coverts tipped with brownish-white. 
Male, length 50. Female, length 55. 
California and Columbia Rivers. Resident in the south. 
Cathartes Californianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 22. 
Californian Vulture, Nuttall, Man. vi. p. 30. 
Californian Vultui’e, Cathartes Californianus, Ann. v. v. p. 240. 
2. 2. Cathartes Aura, Linn. Red-headed Turkey- Vulture. 
— Turkey-Buzzard. Turkey- Vulture. ^ 
Plate CLI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Young fledged. 
Nostrils very large, elliptical, occupying the whole nasal cavity ; 
feathers of the ruff and breast ovate, rounded ; skin over the crop bare ; 
tail rounded. Adult with the skin of the head and neck wrinkled and 
blood-red, the horny part of the bill yellowish- white ; the plumage 
blackish-brown, deepest on the neck and under parts ; feet flesh- 
