52 BULLETIN 5 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



halfway to the nostril, where forming an acute angle, then curving 

 forward and downward and reaching the tomium at a point much 

 posterior to its upper anterior extremity; nostril situated above 

 middle point between rictus and top of cere and almost directly 

 above the former, relatively small, elongate-ovate (its anterior end 

 more or less pointed), its interior perforate portion occupying less 

 than posterior half of nasal orifice. Wing very large, the remiges 

 greatly developed; longest primaries extending decidedly beyond 

 tips of longest secondaries and reaching to or beyond tip of tail, 

 much bowed; fourth or fifth primary (from outside) longest, the 

 first (outermost) intermediate in length between seventh and eighth; 

 inner webs of seven outer primaries sinuated (the sinuation very 

 slight on seventh), the second to seventh (from outside) with outer 

 webs sinuated. Tail about half as long as wing, truncate, the rectrices 

 (usually 12, sometimes 14) broad and rigid. Tarsus shorter than 

 head (including bill), a Httle longer thau middle toe. 



Plumage and coloration. — Head and neck bare (covered with short 

 down in young), except a triangular patch on forehead of short, 

 closely appressed bristly feathers, extending backward to about middle 

 of crown, forward as far as anterior end of nostrils, and sending a 

 lateral branch do^\Tlward to the rictus, covering most of the space 

 between eye and base of bill; the bristly feathers of this area sparse 

 at its contracted upper anterior extremity, but dense at the abruptly 

 defined posterior border (on crown) ; skin of head and neck smooth, 

 without caruncles or well-defined corrugations. Plumage commencing 

 abruptly on lower neck in a ruff of lanceolate, acuminate, rather 

 rigid feathers, these continued over breast, abdomen, and sides; 

 plumage of upperparts hard, the feathers broad and sharply defined 

 or imbricated. General color dull grayish black; adults \^ith outer 

 webs of greater wing coverts and secondaries light grayish, the 

 former tipped and the latter edged with white, the axiilars and under 

 wing coverts white, bill whitish, and bare skin of head and neck 

 yellow or orange in life; young with white on mngs, feathers of upper- 

 parts margined with brown, bill and skin of head and neck dusky, 

 the latter more-or-less covered with soft short sooty grayish down. 



Nidijicaiion. — No nest, but eggs deposited in a cavity or recess 

 among rocks or in a hollow stump or tree trunk; eggs 1-2, elongate- 

 ovate, plain pale grayish green or dull greenish white. 



Range. — Pacific coast of United States, chiefly in Cafifornia. 

 ^^Monotypic.) 



The single species included in this very strongly characterized 

 genus, the great California vulture, is now very rare and in danger 

 of early extinction. It is fully the peer of the South American 

 condor (Vultur gryphus) in size, as may be seen from the following 



