12 
CALIFORNIAN VULTURE. 
the edges sharp, towards the end decutved. Nostrils oblong, large, 
pervious. Head oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its edges 
serrate with reversed papillae. (Esophagus dilated into an enormous 
crop ; stomach moderately muscular ; duodenum convoluted. Head and 
upper part of neck denuded, 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. 
CALIFORNIAN VULTURE. 
Cathartes californianus, Lath. 
PLATE I. — Adult Male. 
Of the three species of Vulture which inhabit the southern parts of North 
America, this is so much superior in size to the rest that it bears to them 
the same proportion as a Golden Eagle to a Goshawk. It inhabits the 
valleys and plains of the western slope of the continent, and has not been 
observed to the eastward of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Townsend, who 
has had opportunities of observing it, has favoured me with the following 
account of its habits. 
“The Californian Vulture inhabits the region of the Columbia river, to 
the distance of five' hundred miles from its mouth, and is most abundant 
in spring, ’at which season it feeds on the dead salmon that are thrown upon 
the shores in great numbers. It is also often met with near the Indian 
villages, being attracted by the offal of the fish thrown around the habita- 
tions. It associates with Cathartes Aura , but is easily distinguished from 
that species in flight, both by its greater size and the more abrupt curva- 
ture of its wing. The. Indians, whose observations may generally be 
depended upon, say that it ascertains the presence of food solely by its 
power of vision, thus corroborating your own remarks on the vulture tribe 
generally. On the upper waters of the Columbia the fish intended foi 
winter store are usually deposited in huts made of the branches of tree'' 
interlaced. I have frequently seen the Ravens attempt to effect a lodge 
ment in these deposits, but have never known the Vulture to be engaged in 
this way, although these birds were numerous in the immediate vicinity.” 
