758 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 
among the vertebree found in mid-neck; it is but feebly developed in 
the tifth segment, still more so in the sixth, and is nearly lost in the 
few following vertebre as we proceed down the neck. It soon reap- 
pears again, however, as a broad, knob-like apophysis, to become com- 
pressed from side to side, quadrate, and finally like the anterior dorsals, 
In the Cathartide we find a diapophysial process jutting out from the 
wall of the vertebral canal, laterally and at the anterior part of the ver- 
tebra; this character is best marked as we approach the dorsal region, 
and we find that upon those cervical vertebra with the free ribs it is 
quite broad and exhibits a metapophysial ridge. 
Upper cervical vertebra show long postzygapophysial processes, and 
throughout the series the arms bearing these articular facets are short- 
ened or lengthened in such a manner as to preserve the decided sig- 
moidal curve so characteristic of the vulturine neck. As we arrive at 
the middle of the cervical chain of segments, we notice that the anterior 
articular facets are barely concave, face directly inwards, and so, each 
other, occupying a position, on either side, on the bony ridge that spans 
the vertebral canal above. 
Epipleural appendages are never found upon the free ribs of the cer- 
vical vertebre of the American Vultures, and this condition seems to 
obtain pretty generally among the Falconide, though these ribs become 
more and more like the true dorsal ones as we advance in that direction. 
In a communication just received from Mr. Frederic A. Lucas, Ward’s 
National Science Establishment, Rochester, N. Y., we learn that this 
observer found in Otogyps calvus *‘ fifteen cervical vertebrae; two pair 
of cervical ribs, first very small, both without uncinate processes. No 
uncinate process on last rib.” This last remark probably refers to the 
sacral rib, which rarely bears an epipleural appendage. This observer 
further states that he found ‘a bony internasal septum (in this bird), with 
a skull proportionately shorter and higher thanin Vultur cinerea.” From 
the sketch he kindly presented me the nostril has its long axis in- 
clined nearly vertical rather than longitudinal. And, further, for Vuléur - 
cinerea we find “fifteen cervical vertebrae; two cervical ribs, first smaller 
than in O. calvus, both without processes, small uncinate process on 
last rib” (sacral?). ‘A bony internasal septum” was found in V. cinerea. 
Then for Gyps bengalensis, ‘‘ Cervicals seventeen; last two cervicals 
bear a rib, the first of which is 45 millimeters long, being 40 millimeters 
longer than same rib of V. cinerea, and 38 millimeters longer than in O. 
calvus. Second cervical rib with long uncinate process. Last rib with 
uncinate process” (sacral?). ‘A nasal septum, but no bony projection 
within nostril, as in V. cinerea and O. calvus. Skull much more like 
Cathartes in its shape than any other large Vulture I have examined.” 
No doubt means general contour, as Cathartes, we know, has not a nasal 
septum present. 
Lateral wings are seen to project horizontally from the centrum of 
the ultimate cervical beneath, and so we pass to the first dorsal, in the 
majority of the Cathartide, these wings still persist, but are not so far- 
spreading, and are, as it were, drawn downwards at the expense of the 
centra, the latter becoming more compressed, the former, now attached 
by a quadrate pedicle, are true hypapophyses with flattened and ex- 
panded extremities, which latter contract, and the pedicle becomes 
longer as we approach the sacrum. These are very prettily shown in 
S. gryphus, and in all of our Vultures are a striking characteristic of the 
dorsal series. 
Rim-like projections are observed to bound the facets of articulation 
among the centra in this portion of the column; these latter are sub-com- 
