388 MR. F. E. BEDDARD OX THE TOXGUE [DcC. 1, 



and there are traces of these, perhaps reduced to one spine, in 

 Cathartes. I cannot, however, with any confidence distinguish the 

 tongues of the two genera. The point, however, which I wish to 

 emphasise is that this single inner spine, if there be only one, 

 which lies medianly of the lateral fringing row, is the vestige of- the 

 V-shaped edging of spines which borders the tongue of other 

 Accipitres posteriorly. The tongue of the Carthartidag, therefore, 

 difiers from that of other Accipitres in the nearly complete dis- 

 appearance of the spines which border the tongue posteriorly, and 

 the hypertrophy of the lateral spines which are indicated in some 

 Accipitres, particularly in VuUur. I may i-emark finally that the 

 numerous large glandular orifices (figured by Gadow) which are 

 scattered over the tongue in Gypagus and Cathartes are not found 

 in Vidtur ; nor is the slit of the glottis in the latter edged with 

 spines as it is in the Cathartidse. 



In my work* upon the anatomy of Birds, I briefly drew attention 

 to the fact that the "syrinx" in the American Vultures presents 

 two types — one characterising Cathartes, and the other the two 

 genera Gypagus and Harcorhartvphtis. I take the oppoitunity of 

 expanding that account. In remarking that the CathartidjB are 

 distinguished by their completely closed bronchial rings, I take if 

 that Prof. Fiirbringer had in view the genus Cathartes only. It is 

 only Cathartes that figures in the description of the muscular 

 anatomy of Birds contained in his great work. In supporting 

 Dr. Fiirbringer's statement, I found it necessary f to limit that 

 statement to Cathartes, since in Gypagus and Sarcorhamphus the 

 bronchial " rings " are in reality semirings, as in birds with a 

 tracheo-bronchial syrinx. The actual difierence, however, between 

 Cathartes and the other types is one of degree. In Cathartes the 

 bulk of the bronchial cartilages are complete i-ings, while a few at 

 the end (I counted five of these in two specimens selected at random) 

 are semirings. In Gypagus, on the other hand, all the bronchial 

 cartilages are semirings. In this point Gypagiis agrees with 

 Sarcorhamphus. A further peculiarity is noteworthy as distinctive 

 of the several genera of Cathartidse with which I deal in the 

 present communication. In Sarcorhamp)hiis I have figured + the 

 membrana tympaniformis as continued upwai'ds along the trachea 

 posteriorly, which results, therefore, in the production of tracheal 

 semirings. This longitudinal fissure of the tracheal rings exists 

 for some distance. In Gypagits precisely the same state of affairs 

 is to be found, only it is less extensive than in the Condor. I can 

 find no trace of any transvei'se break in the tracheal rings of 

 Cathartes. I have been able to examine four individuals v/hich 

 include both sexes. If it occurs, the probabilities are in favour of 

 its being exceptional. We have, therefore, in the structure of the 

 windpipe in these American Vidtures two distinct types — one 

 developed in Cathartes, and the other in Sarcorhamphas and 

 Gypagus. 



* 'The Structure and Classification of Birds.' London. 1898. 



t Loo. cit., see also " On the Windpipe and Heart of the Condor," P. Z. S. 1902, 

 ^ol. I. p. 2:39. + r, Z. S. 1902, vol. i., text-fig. 30, p. 211. 



