i 



SERPENT VRIID-i;. 33 



well shown. There arc slight differences in the proximal 

 pneumatic foramina from a recent ulna of V. monachus, 

 but these may well be merely individual variations. 



Furcluised, 1864. 



Family SERPENT ARILD^. 



Tho most characteristic osteological features are to be foinul in the great 

 length of the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus. The latter has a deep channel 

 for the extensor muscles on the anterior surface of the proximal extremity, as 

 in the Ccdharfidce. 



Genus SERPENTARIUS, Cuvieri. 

 Serpentarius robustus, Milne-Edwards -'. 



Distinguished from the existing S. rcptilivorus by the shorter aud stouter 

 tai-so-raetatarsus, wl\ieh has a length of 0,215, against 0,270 in the Afi'icau 

 species. 



Hah. Europe (France). 



From the Lower Miocene (Upper Oligoceue) of Allier. See Milne-Edwards, 

 ' Oiseaux Fossiles de la France,' pi. clxxxvi. 



Family CATHARTID^. 



The tarso-metatarsus is compressed from back to front, with 

 straight and nearly equal lateral surfaces, the anterior surface being 

 deeply channelled superiorly, and having its borders of nearly equal 

 height ; in place of the two crests of the talon of the Falconida; 

 there is one broad and low protuberance, traversed by three shallow 

 channels ; the tibial facets are divided by a distinct prominence, and 

 the facet for the hallux is very minute. The terminal phalangeals 

 of the pes are very slightly curved. 



The distal extremity of tho tibio-tarsus is much narrower than in 

 the Falconida'. 



1 Tabl. Elum. d'Hist. Nat. p. 254 (1798). 



- Oiseaux Fossiles de la France, vol. ii. p. 4(>0 (1809-71). 



