4 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
Family VULTXJUIDAE. The Vultures. 
CATHARTES, Illiger. 
CATHARTES AURA. (Linnaeus.) 
The Turkey Buzzard—The Turkey Vulture. 
Vultur aura, Likn, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) 
Cathartes septenlrionalis, De Wied, Rcise, 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; 
Aud. 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 boiders. 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 
paits 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 Ngw 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. 
.>•^5 m •»>.«. v+jv. »•« .**<**< 
Catalogue number.’ 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
When collected 
Whence obtained. 
Original number. 
Collected by— 
Point of bill to end 
of tail. S 
Ct> 
---- — 
Between tips of out- e 
stretched wings. § 
Wing from carpal §■ 
joint. 
3825 
Feb., 1853... 
Prof. A. Winchell.. 
849K 
Bois de Sioux, Minnesota. 
Governor Stevens.. 
17 
Dr. Suckley_ 
4603 
May 14, 1856. 
Lt. G. K. Warren.. 
Dr. Hayden. 
26. 50 
72. 00 
20.50 
Mouth of Delaware creek, 
4983 
June 14, 1855. 
Captain J. Pope ... 
98 
Mouth of Delaware creek, 
4931 
June 14, 1855. 
Captain J. Pope ... 
99 
8497 
Lieut. Couch_ 
Dr. Berlandiere . 
8499 
Governor Stevens.. 
102 
Dr. Suckley .... 
43 0 
* 
January, 1856. 
E. Samuels _ 
27. 00 
69. 00 
21. 00 
o 
1 Occthartes, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 236. 1811. 
