File:Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of (14564942827).jpg

Identifier: keytonorthameric00coue (find matches)
Title: Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland and lower California, with which are incorporated General ornithology: an outline of the structure and classification of birds; and Field ornithology, a manual of collecting, preparing, and preserving birds
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899
Subjects: Birds -- North America Birds -- Collection and preservation
Publisher: Boston, Estes and Lauriat
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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nd, or near it inhollow stumps or logs, generally in communities. Eggs commonly 2, sometimes l, about 560 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — BAPTOBES — CA THABTIDES 2.75 X 1.90, white or creamy, variously spotted and blotched with different browns, and withlavender or purplish-drab shell-markings. This species has a curious habit of playingpossum, by simulating death when wounded and captured; the feint is admirably executedand often long protracted.191. CATHARISTA. (Gr. KaOapiCo), katharizo, I purify.) Carrion Crows. Of medium size;body stout. Head naked, and generally as in Cathartes, but feathers of the neck running upbehind to a point on the occiput, the outline of the plumage thus very different. Cere con-tracted ; nostrils narrow, less openly pervious than in Cathartes. Wings shorter and relativelybroader than in Cathartes, not folding to the end of the tail, which is short, only about half thewing, and even or emarginate ; 4th and .5th quills longest. The difference in size and shape
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Fig. Black Vulture, \ nat. size. (From Brehm.) between Cathartes and Catharista is strikingly displayed when the birds are seen flying together ;there is also a decided difference in the mode of flight, as Catharista never sails for any distancewithout interrupting that easy motion by flapping the wings. C. atrata. (Lat. afrato, blackened. Fig. 388.) Carrion Crow. Black Vulture. Adult^ 9 • Entire plumage, including skin of head, and bill, blackish; shafts of the primarieswhite; bases of the primaries paling to gray or whitish. Tip of bill and feet grayish-yellow;iris brown ; claws black. Smaller than C. aura, in linear dimensions, but a heavier bird;length about 2 feet; extent only about 4i feet; wing 17.00 inches; taU 8.00; tarsus 3.00;middle toe rather less; chord of culmen without cere 1.00 or less. Nesting like that of C aura;eggs similar, but larger, or at any rate longer; about 3.25X2.00. Chiefly S. Atlantic and GulfStates, especially maritime, there very numerous, out-numberi

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