34 VULTURIN^E. 



rate length, generally stout, sometimes rather slender ; 

 upper mandible cerate, compressed, with the tip elonga- 

 ted, decurved, rather obtuse, thin-edged ; lower mandible 

 rather slender, with the tip rounded and thin-edged. 

 Tongue concave above, or induplicate, with the tip round- 

 ed or slightly emarginate, and horny beneath ; oesophagus 

 very wide, dilated into a most capacious crop ; proven- 

 triculus wide ; stomach large, thin, or moderately mus- 

 cular, with a soft rugous epithelium ; intestine of mode- 

 rate length and width ; cceca minute or wanting. Trachea 

 considerably flattened, somewhat tapering, and composed 

 of slender rings ; inferior larynx much flattened, its last 

 entire ring without septum ; bronchi partly membra- 

 nous ; no inferior laryngeal muscles, the contractors ter- 

 minating in the sterno-tracheal. Eyes of moderate size. 

 Apertures of ears rather small and simple. Nostrils 

 oblong, large, or of moderate size. Tarsus stout, bare, 

 shorter than the middle toe, which is very long-, hind toe 

 small, second a little shorter than fourth ; anterior toes 

 connected by basal webs ; claws large, moderately curved, 

 acute. Head and part of neck destitute of feathers ; but 

 more or less covered with down or hairs ; plumage full, 

 rather compact ; feathers generally ovate, those on the 

 neck lanceolate ; wings very long, broad, with the third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills longest ; tail of moderate length, 

 with from twelve to sixteen feathers. 



The Vulturine Birds inhabit the tropical and warmer 

 temperate regions of both continents, seldom extending 

 into the colder. They feed on animal substances, recent 

 or putrid. Some of the larger species capture their prey 

 by grasping, but others, having the claws less curved, 

 employ the bill, or are content with carcasses. They des- 

 cry their food from great distances, soar to a vast height, 

 sail in circles, fly sedately, but with considerable speed, 

 and are gregarious on occasion, some of the smaller spe- 

 cies being habitually so. Undigested substances are dis- 



