CATHARTES. 51 



is at first quite naked. Wings with a very variable number of remiges, at the utmost thirty-six, at 

 the lowest twenty-three, of which ten are on the hand; the first three rapidly graduated, the 

 third probably always the longest, the first equal to the seventh ; all as far as the sixth emarginated 

 on the inner vane ; spurious wing with four feathers. Parapterum not well marked, composed of 

 eight feathers not easily distinguishable from the rest ; hypopterum more distinct, consisting of 

 twelve long, flat feathers running clown upon the upper arm. 



1. C. gryphus. Short, hair-like feathers on the head and upper part of the neck; neck-ruff 

 formed only of down-feathers. Lateral neck-space short, reaching from the shoulder to the base 

 of the neck. Spinal tract very broad (6 10 feathers) from its commencement, and strong; but 

 the short lobes of the furcate portion soon taper off, so that they terminate with a single feather. 

 Dorsal portion consisting, for the first half, of two distant rows of feathers ; afterwards of four rows, 

 but becoming no wider. Humeral tract large and broad, apparently with air-cells among its 

 quills ; the space between it and the upper plumage of the wing very narrow. Inferior tract very 

 sparsely feathered, the insular space not very large, and therefore not particularly perceptible ; 

 the ventral portion extends to the anus. Lumbar tract of two rows, with twelve feathers in each, 

 distinctly separated from the spinal tract, but coalescent with the crural tract. Down-feathers 

 behind the oil-gland, partly standing beneath it, and not to be regarded as apical feathers. Alto- 

 gether thiriy-six remiges, of which the thirty-third is at the elbow ; on the hand, as usual, ten. 



2. C. papa. Neck quite bare, except at the nape, where there is a band composed of hair- 

 like feathers, which also extends over the vertex ; lower part of the neck feathered all over above, 

 but with the plumage unequal, thicker anteriorly, where it forms the ruff, and similarly thickened 

 on a small band in the direction of the spinal tract ; lateral regions sparsely feathered, interrupted 

 beneath by the perfectly naked inferior space. Lateral neck-space limited to the shoulder. 

 Scapular portion of the spinal tract distinct, with a deep bifurcation ; the branches slender, obtuse 

 at the end. Axillary tracts strong and large, situated close to the shoulder-blades, whence the 

 space separating them from the plumage of the arm becomes broader. Posterior half of the spinal 

 tract entirely formed of two rows of feathers, which at first diverge and have the feathers distant, 

 but are subsequently parallel and denser ; somewhat widened in the pelvic region. Lumbar 

 tract short, separated from the crural tract, biserial. Inferior tract rather more densely feathered 

 than in C. gryplius ; but the insular space much larger, and quite naked. Inferior space at first 

 narrow, in consequence of the inward bending of the inner branch of the inferior tract ; somewhat 

 broader on the belly ; perfectly naked in front. Wing plumage as in C. gryphus, but only thirty- 

 tivo remiges, of which the last but one stands at the elbow. 



3. C. aura, VIEILL. The head and fore part of the neck are quite naked. The plumage 

 of the neck goes further towards the head, but is weakened towards the trunk and abridged 

 on the sides, when the lateral neck-space is perceptible in front of the shoulder. Spinal tract 

 exactly as in C. papa, except that the feathers in the middle of the dorsal part are somewhat 

 softer and almost downy. Lumbar tract separated from the crural tract. Inferior tract similar 

 in arrangement to that of C. papa, but with the feathers more sparse, so that this is rendered 

 small and indistinct. All the rest as in C. papa, but only twenty-seven remiges ; the ten primaries 

 in the same proportions as in C. yryphm and C. papa ; the twenty-fifth at the elbow, and the 

 longest of the arm-feathers. 



4. C. urubu (fattens ILLIG. ; atratus TEMM. ; BUFF. PL Eul., 187). Head and fore part of 

 the neck warty, with very scattered, hair-like feathers. Neck plumage uninterrupted, commencing 



