and Spurs of Birds' Wings. 



149 



some preparations made which serve to illustrate several 

 new points^, or points which I think have not as yet been 

 quite clearly understood. These I will take up as they come 

 before me. 



1. The Wing-claw of the King Vulture {Gypayus papa) . 



Dr. E. Shufeldt (Am. Nat. vol. xv. p. 906) was the first 

 to show^ the presence of a claw on the index digit of Cathartes 

 atratus and PseudogrypJius californianus ; and its existence in 

 both species of Cathartes was subsequently confirmed by 

 Mr. W. A. Forbes (Am. Nat. xvi. p. 141). Dr. Shufeldt 

 alludes also to its existence in the King Vulture ; and I have 

 now great pleasure in confirming the presence of a well- 

 developed claw in this form of the Cathartidpe. The drawing 

 given herewith (fig. 1) represents the outer surface of the 



Fi-. 1. 



Outer surface of right wing of tlie King Vulture (Gypayus pcqia), reduced f , 

 with feathers removed. CI, claw on first digit. The flesh is re- 

 moved from the radius (H) and ulna (^<). 



right wing of a specimen of this bird that recently died in the 

 Zoological Society's Gardens. The claw {CI) at the extremity 

 of the first finger is small and very slightly curved^ but, as 

 will be seen,, very distinctly manifest. It measures about 

 •01,5 inch in length. 



I have not yet had an opportunity of examining any 

 of the Vultures of the Old World, to see whether a corre- 



