328 Mr. Doug^las on the Vultur Calif ami amis. 



attached by a moveable cartilage to the shell, at the side of the first dorsal 

 vertebra. There was a strong ligamentous band uniting the two scapulce 

 inferiorly where they approximate on the fore part. Thus they formed 

 part of the parietes of the cavity containing the heart. 



The penis was contained in the cloaca, and divided longitudinally as 

 in Blumenbach's account. It was furnished with two retractor and two 

 elongator muscles. The retractors arising from either side of the bodies 

 of two or three of the middle dorsal vcrtebrcB passed downwards behind 

 the rectum to be inserted into the under part of the penis, and their 

 action was to draw the penis upwards. Their antagonists arose from the 

 pubes, and passed completely around the lower end of the former mus- 

 cles to be attached again to the same bone near their origins. Their 

 action was to draw down the penis; but as they were not attached to 

 it, this purpose was effected through the medium of the last mentioned 

 muscles, the lower end of which they draw towards the pelvis. 



Art. XLIII. Observations on the F^ultur Californianus of 

 Shaw. By David Douglas, F.L.S., ^c. 



Vultur Californianus, Shawy JVat. Misc. Vol. ix, pi. 301. Lath. Hist. 

 Vol iv, p. 3. Cathartes Californianus, Illiger. Sarcoramphus Cali- 

 fornianus, .^uct. rec. 



The length of this bird is 56 inches; the measure round the body 

 40 inches. Weight 25 to 35 pounds. Beak 3i inches long, bright 

 glossy yellow. Head 9 inches round, deep orange, with a few short 

 scattered feathers on the fore part, at the root of the beak. Iris pale 

 red. Pupil light green. Mck 1 1 inches long, 9 round, of a change- 

 able color, brownish yellow with blue tints. Bod>/ 24 inches long, 

 black or slightly brown. Collar and breast feathers lanceolate, decom- 

 posed, white on the outside near the points. Quills thirty-four, the third 

 the longest. Extent between the tips of the wings 9 feet 8 inches. 



