48 PTERYLOGRAPHY. 



already been mentioned, are connected by two rows of single feathers with the narrow 

 dorsal portion, which is three feathers in breadth. On each side of the latter, at some little 

 distance, there is another row of distant contour-feathers. Inferior tracts exactly as in the other 

 Vultures, and somewhat separated from the anus behind. Lumbar tract wanting. The crural 

 tracts form breeches, but the feathers in them are not very large. Humeral tracts greatly 

 developed, becoming broader and densely feathered behind, intimately united with the inferior 

 tract in front. When this union occurs, there stand, on the top of the axilla, several longer 

 feathers curved somewhat forwards and upwards, which are correctly represented in the figures 

 of this bird. The wing- feathers present no peculiarities: remiges thirty-five, of which ten are on 

 the hand ; the first five with a gradually diminishing emargination on the inner margin. First 

 primary as long as the seventh ; second longer than the fifth, but shorter than the fourth ; the 

 third the longest of all. Tail much rounded, with twelve feathers. Oil-gland feathered, and with 

 a circlet of feathers at the end of the scarcely distinct apex. 



All the spaces clothed with long, bushy down-feathers, particularly large in the lateral neck- 

 spaces, which are very distinct, continued between the throat and the inferior tract, and connected 

 with the inferior space. 



Contour-feathers with an accessory shaft, which is especially firm and rigid on the long, 

 narrow feathers of the lower surface of the neck. 



2. V. pondicerianus, Temm., PI. Col. 2. Head and upper part of the neck naked, the 

 former with scattered setiform feathers, the latter on each side with a projecting naked fold of 

 skin, which extends down upon the lateral neck space, even in the feathered part of the neck. In 

 other respects exactly like V. cinereus, but the contour-feather plumage weaker in all parts, pro- 

 bably weaker than in any other predaceous bird. The jugular shield is longer and narrower, and 

 its feathers less dense or less depressed than in the other Vultures. The inside of the shank is 

 merely clothed with down, perhaps even perfectly naked in the middle. Humeral tract united 

 anteriorly Avith the inferior tract; -feathers of the latter strongest and longest on the inner margin, 

 where they are usually narrowest. The down of the contour-feathers more abundant, and, with 

 that of the down -feathers, very soft, white, and easily moved. Both these characters also occur 

 in the Cinereous Vulture, but not in the Small-headed group. Wings and tail with no peculiar 

 characters. 



3. V. angolcnsis, Lath. This rare bird, of which I have seen two stuffed specimens in the 

 Imperial Cabinet of Natural History at Vienna, is of about the size of Neophron percnopterus, 

 which it also resembles in its slender beak, but at the same time is distinguished from it by its 

 small, vertical, elliptical nostrils. The two specimens were of different sexes ; the male has a 

 thinner beak, with a much longer and more strongly hooked tip. It is the original of the figure 

 in the 'Museum Leverianum,' and was obtained from the Leverian collection. The specimen figured 

 in Brown's ' Illustrations of Zoology ' is likewise this bird. The female, which is someAvhat larger 

 than a Raven, has the beak nearly of the same form as in V. cinereus, but the nostril is more 

 elliptical. In both sexes the upper part of the head, the region of the ear, and the neck are 

 covered with bristle-like contour- feathers ; the rest of the contour-feathers have a large downy 

 aftershaft. The pterylosis, so far as I could examine it, was exactly as in the Vultures, with 

 the pectoral part of the inferior tracts broad. Tail in both individuals with twelve feathers ; but 

 on the wings I found not more than twenty-five remiges, amongst which, however, there were 

 evidently some gaps ; the first two graduated : the third, fourth, and fifth longest ; all five with a 



