The turkey-buzzard (Cathartes ora) is similar in its habits to the black
vulture, and is frequently mistaken for it. It is seldom found
southward of latitude 41 degrees. Of late years, however, they have
become numerous in the Valley of the Colorado, three hundred miles
further south. It is not found on the desert and arid plains of
Northern Patagonia, except near some stream; and it is supposed not to
have passed into Chili, although in Peru it exists in great numbers,
where it is preserved to act the part of a scavenger.
It is a solitary bird, and goes in pairs; and may at once be recognised
at a distance, from its lofty soaring and most elegant flight. It
ranges from North America to Cape Horn.
Such are some of the more notable members of the feathered tribes
inhabiting the Valley of the Amazon. There are numberless others,--both
land and water birds,--a description of which would occupy too much
space, some of them also being common to other parts of the world.
Several, likewise, are seen more frequently either in Venezuela and
Guiana, or in the La Plata region, and will be noticed when we visit
those countries.
From the Birds, then, we will pass on to the Reptiles and Insects of
South America; in which, as to number and the variety of their forms and
habits, it equals, if it does not surpass, any portion of similar size
of the Old World, in the same latitude.