THE GRIFFON VULTURE. 101 



another section, almost equally typical in the family, 

 the representatives of which are scattered over the three 

 divisions of the Old Continent. It is in this section 

 more particularly that we conceive a further separation 

 of species both practicable and desirable. M. Savigny 

 has already effected it to a certain extent by the estab- 

 lishment of two well marked genera for the reception 

 of the two European species ; and Mr. Vigors has 

 pointed out the propriety of separating the Angola Vul- 

 ture of Pennant from the rest of the group. To these 

 three strongly marked forms we would add the bird 

 which furnishes the subject of the next following article 

 as the type of a fourth, with which we doubt not that 

 the Pondicherry Vulture of Latham would form a natu- 

 ral association. Of the remaining species we will not 

 venture to speak, not having yet enjoyed the opportu- 

 nity of examining them in nature. 



The essential characters of the entire section consist, 

 in addition to all the characteristic marks of the family, 

 in the almost total want of feathers on the head and 

 neck ; in the position of the eyes on a level with the 

 general surface of the head ; in the prominence of the 

 crop, which is covered by a naked and highly exten- 

 sible portion of skin ; in the transverse position of the 

 nostrils at the base of a strong beak not surmounted 

 by a fleshy caruncle ; in the exposure of their auditory 

 openings, which have no elevated margin ; in the great 

 strength of their legs ; the comparative weakness of 

 their blunt and unretractile claws ,• and the shortness 

 of their first quill-feather, which is of equal length 

 with the sixth, the third and fourth being the longest 

 of the series. To these may be added the usually great 

 elongation of their necks; the fleshy consistence of their 

 tongues ; the prolongation of the middle toe, which is 

 united to the outer by a membranous expansion at the 



