386 MR. F. E, BEDDARD OX THE TOXGUE [Dec. 1, 



6. A No^e upon the Tongue and Windpipe of the Amerif^an 

 Vultures, with Remarks on the Interrehitions of the 

 Genera Sarcorlianqolms, Gyi^agus, and Cathartes. Bj 

 Feank E. Beddard, ma., F.R.S., Prosector to the 

 Society. 



[Received October 15, 1903.] 



(Text-figures 45-48.) 



In a recent communication* which dealt to a slight extent with 

 the ari'angement of the papillee Tipon the dipper surface of the 

 tongue in Accipitres, I referred to certain peculiarities in which 

 the tongue of Vultur diverged from that of its allies, thoiigh 

 agreeing with it in certain broad features that diifer from the 

 condition in the Falconine group of the Accii^itres. I am not for 

 the present again concerned with the latter subject, but with a 

 more detailed account of the structure of the tongue in Vultur and 

 its comparison with some other forms. 



In an example of Vultur ccdims ( d ), the tongue is 35 mm. in 

 length, and thick, of a boat-like form, the sides being bent 

 upwards. There is the usual posterior row of spines, and, in 

 addition to these, a lateral row on each side which commences 

 quite posteriorly (see text-fig. 45) and extends anteriorly for a 

 distance of 11 mm. on the left side and 10 mm, on the right. The 

 spines are flattened and backwai'dly directed, getting blunter in 

 form anteriorly ; there are seven on the left side and five on the 

 right. In Vultur auricularis the lateral rows of spines are more 

 pronounced and somewhat difierent in form, thus affording, it 

 may be remarked in passing, an additional character to distinguish 

 the two species. In this bii-d the tongue measures 39 mm. in 

 length, and the lateral rows of spines end at 14 mm. and 13 mm. 

 respectively from the postei-ior end of the organ ; as in V. calvus, 

 the left row is the longest. It will be observed, therefore, that in 

 both species the proportions of the spine-bedecked and spineless 

 regions of the tongue are much the same. In V. aurictdaris the 

 spiny papillse are sharper and more numerous. I counted ten of 

 them on the left side and eight on the right. An accurate notion 

 of their shape and relations will be obtained from an inspection 

 of the accompanying drawing (text-fig. 45). The form of the 

 tongue, as well as the number of the lateral papillae, diflerentiates 

 Vultur from Gypohierax. The latter has a flatter, longer, and so 

 far more typically " Accipitrine" tongue. It has no traces of the 

 characteristic lateral spiny papillae, which cannot, therefore, be 

 regarded as a "Yulturine" character, correlated perhaps with 

 diet. ^ And though this one instance may not be regai-ded as 

 sufficient of itself to emphasise the suggestion, it is supported by 

 converse examples. In Aquila chrysaetiis, JVisaetus fasciatus, and 

 Gypaetihs harhatus there are distinct traces of these same papillae 



* " On the S.vrinx in the Accipitres, &(;./' V. Z. S. 1903, a-oL ii. p. 157. 



