CATHARTID IE — THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 143 
1. R. aura. Upper half of the neck bare all round. Feathers of the upper 
surface with brown borders. Length about 26 inches ; extent of wings 
about 6 feet. Wing, 20.00-23.00; tail, about 12.00. Hab. Entire continent 
and islands of America, except the colder portions. {Turkey -Buzzard.') 
2. R. burrovianus. Only the head and throat naked, the feathers of the 
neck extending up to the occiput. Feathers of the upper surface without 
brown borders. Length about 22 inches. Wing, 18.00 - 18.50 ; tail, 9.00. 
Hab. Eastern Tropical America (Brazil ; Eastern Mexico ??). ( Burroughs's 
Buzzard.) 
Genus CATHARXSTA, Vieiluot. (Page 142.) 
C. atrata. Form heavy ; the wings and tail short, the latter square ; the remiges and 
rectrices very hard and stiff. Bill strong, the mandibles broader than deep, and of about 
equal depth, the terminal hook well developed ; upper and lower outlines of the cere paral- 
lel, and nearly straight. Nostril narrow, its anterior end contracted and pointed. Length 
about 23 inches ; extent, F 54. Wing, 17.00 - 17.50 ; tail, 7.50 - 8.50 ; culmen, .90 - .95 ; 
tarsus, 3.00; middle toe, 2.90; outer, 1.90; inner, 1.50; posterior, .75. Adult. Bill 
blackish, the point horny- white; naked skin of the head and upper part of the neck 
blackish. Entire plumage continuous, perfectly uniform dull black ; primaries becoming 
grayish basally (more hoary whitish on their under surface), their shafts pure white for 
their whole length. Hab. Tropical and subtropical portions of America, especially near 
the coast. [{Black Vulture ; Carrion Crow.) 
