Of this genus, which is peculiar to America, there are seven species; four of which are natives of the northern, and two of the southern portion of this continent, and one of the West Indies. All of them much resemble each other in their habits, and the two South American species are nearly related to similar species of the North, as will be pointed out in descriptions of the latter now to be given. In all its essential characters, this genus differs very little from _Sarcoramphus_, which includes the _Condor_ and the _King Vulture_ of South America. A. 1. Cathartes aura. (Linn.) The Turkey Buzzard. The Turkey Vulture. Vultur aura. Linn. Syst. Nat., I. p. 122. (1766.) Cathartes septentrionalis. De Weid Reise, I. p. 162. (1839.) Catesby Nat. Hist. Carolina, I. pl. 6. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I. pl. 2. Wilson Am. Orn. IX. pl. 75, fig. 1. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 151. Plumage, commencing on the neck with a circular ruff of rather long and projecting feathers. Head and upper part of neck, naked, or with scattering, down-like feathers, especially on the vertex, and with the skin wrinkled. Nostrils, large, oval, communicating with each other; tail, rather long, rounded. Entire plumage, brownish black, darkest on the neck, back and tail above; many feathers having a purple lustre on the upper and under parts of the body, and with pale brownish borders on the upper parts. Bill, yellowish white; wings and tail, paler beneath. Head and neck, in living bird, bright red. Total length of skin about 30 inches; wing, 23; tail, 12 inches. Hab. The entire territory of the United States—rare in New England. Wisconsin, (Dr. Hoy,) Oregon, (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes.) New Mexico, (Dr. Henry.) California, (Dr. Gambel.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada. Obs. This species is abundant in the Southern, and of quite frequent occurrence in the Middle States of the Union; but it rarely visits the northeastern, or on the Atlantic, is seldom met with north of New Jersey. In the southern part of the State of Delaware, and in Maryland, it is very abundant, migrating farther south in the winter. It subsists entirely on dead animals, which it devours in every stage of decomposition or putridity. A South American species, long considered as identical with the present bird, is now well ascertained to be distinct, and is the _Vultur jota_. Molina. This name has been erroneously applied to the Carrion Crow or Black Vulture of the United States. The South American species is the smaller, is more slender in all its members, and all the specimens that we have seen have been of a more uniform clear black colour. 2. Cathartes atratus. (Bartram.) The Carrion Crow. The Black Vulture. Vultur atratus. Bartram Travels, p. 289. (1791.) Vultur urubu. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept., p. 53. pl. 2. (1807.) Wilson Am. Orn. IX. pl. 75, fig. 2. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 106.