NEOPHRON. 49 



diminution of the inner vane, which, although slight, extended far down. The apices of the 



wings reach to the end of the tail. Complete breeches on the shanks. Presence or absence of the 

 femoral tract uncertain. 1 



3. NEOPHRON. 



Judging from an examination of N. percnopterus and N. monacfius, this genus has all the 

 pterylographic characters of the true large-headed Vultures, especially the narrow dorsal portion of 

 the spinal tract, which does not reach up between the branches of the cervical portion, but is 

 united therewith by rows of single feathers. The lumbar tract also is entirely wanting. Of 

 course the inferior tract is much dilated upon the breast, and the gular portion is separated from it 

 by a space, and united to the axillary tracts. All the spaces are likewise clothed with soft down- 

 feathers, and these are not wanting among the contour-feathers. In the structure of the wings 

 Neophron seems to be distinguished by a smaller number of remiges (twenty-eight in N. monackus, 

 of which ten are on the hand) ; in other respects these are as in Vultur, namely, the first five with 

 a diminution of the inner vane, and graduated so that the first is equal to the sixth, the second to 

 the fourth, and the third the longest. It is remarkable, however, that N. percnopterus constantly 

 has fourteen tail-feathers, and N. monachus only twelve. The complete absence of a jugular tract 

 in N. monachus, in which the neck, as is well known, is perfectly naked, whilst in N. percnopterus 

 there is a furcate jugular tract, starting even from beneath the jaws, and also a simple cervical 

 tract commencing at the occiput, appears to indicate the distinctness of the two forms. This 

 furcation of the jugular tract, however, furnishes the chief pterylographic distinction between 

 Neophron and Vultur. In N. percnopterus the long narrow tongue is not toothed at the margin ; 

 that of N. monachus I have not been able to examine. Structure of the foot as in Vultur, all 

 the naked parts being covered with small round scales, with only three or four scutes immediately 

 above the claws ; a moderate web between the outer and middle toes. Claws strong, pointed, 

 and curved not much less than in the Buzzard (Falco buteo] ; those of the hinder and inner toes, 

 as usual, most strongly curved. 



1 In the above-mentioned collection this bird stood under the genus Falco, to which it certainly 

 does not belong. Nor do I think it is a Vultur, but rather a Neophron. The supraciliary bone, 

 which occurs in the Vultures, is evidently deficient, as in Neophron and Cathartes ; but the beak is 

 less elongated than in the former, and the position of the nostrils is quite different. The plumage in 

 the male is white, in the female clay-yellow ; the tail black, white at the extremity ; spurious wings and 

 remiges of the arms black, as are also the coverts ; but the primaries are white, with black tips in the 

 female. Axillary feathers large, black, whitish at the tips. Tarsi thick, moderately long, covered 

 throughout with coarse scales ; those in the middle of the fore part rather larger. Toes also scaled, 

 but with 3 4 scutes at the extremity. Claws tolerably curved and acute ; tips of the toes beneath 

 furnished with just such sharp papillae as in Pandion ; a membrane between the middle and 

 outer toes. 



