SHUFELDT.] OSTEOLOGY OF THE CATHARTIDA. 173 
as the line to measure upon; in the pinion, it was the straight line let 
fall from the highest point in the metacarpus to the extreme tip of the 
distal phalanx, the limb being closed. 
Table showing the length of the bones of the pectoral limb in the Cathartida, given in centi- 
meters ; also of Neophron percnopterus and Gypogeranus. 
Species. Humerus. | Radius. Ulna. Pinion. 
PCH OTNUARUS coe has ea ee ec tae oe eee sea eee a te 27.8 31.2 32. 8 24.5 
SSG TU NTUS STRSehe eee Re ee a ee 27. 30.3 31.6 23.5 
(PG LU Sener Oe SEE SSSR E OM ecmno MASE Bo seod ome SeHae te 20.4 21.6 15.1 
Ob CRI, otis hnmiasonas coma caansoenaeocncoooSsseonEece se 14.5 16.6 17.5 14.5 
O8 CU OUD) Sins ase Soest Lt es Se as Ste Aas Solan Ne 14. 15.1 16. 14. 
INSET CHODICTUS) Ao Soe eat aa mie trials aaa selene aia aie ote 14.5 16.7 17.1 14, 
QHSERDERTATIUS) Sma aacas sain aeons se a esse ae tae cet 18.5 19. 19.8 18.3 
In considering the relative position of points upon these segments 
during the course of our remarks, we must consider the bony frame- 
work of the wing as drawn up alongside the body in astate of natural — 
rest, aS seen in the King Vulture in Plate XV, fig. 105. The head of 
the humerus is bent not only downwards, but anconad, the reverse being 
the case in the distal extremity of the bone; these deflections, gentle as 
they are, and extended to a certain share of the snaft, give to this seg- 
ment, both from superior and lateral aspects, the usual sigmoidal cur- 
vatures. 
At the proximal extremity we find a well-developed “ greater tuber- 
osity” in the form of the ordinary smooth convex and curling facet for 
the glenoidal cavity of the shoulder; below this occurs the tuberous 
and projecting “ulnar crest” or “‘ lesser tuberosity ” overhanging a large 
subcireular fossa, at the base of which we note the many pneumatic 
perforations, to allow the entrance of air at this end of the bone. The 
radial crest occupies a position for nearly one-third (Gyparchus) or more 
(C. aura) on the superior aspect of the shaft, proximad, exhibiting all 
of its most usual points of interest. It is quite vertical, turning out- 
wards but very slightly, and strongly marked at the common sites by 
elevated muscular lines; this crest terminates over the greater tuber- 
osity in a special broadened prominence, the continuation of its plate- 
like portion beyond. (Plate XVIII, fig. 109.) From the dilated 
humeral head, we pass to a smooth and even shaft, that presents but 
little for our examination; it is elliptical on section throughout, the 
long or major axis being vertical, while below and nearly midway be- 
tween the extremities we observe a minute nutrient foramen that pierces 
the bone from before backwards. Nearing the distal end of the hu- 
merus, the shaft gradually expands in a vertical direction, to support 
at its termination all of the characters commonly found there; these, 
like the ones we have just left at the proximal extremity, bear out their 
ordinary ornithic types. The external condyle is raised above the bone 
as a tuberous projection for muscular insertion ; both internal and ex- 
ternal condyles are produced anconad to form outstanding and lateral 
boundaries to a shallow olecranon fossa, into which pass longitudinal 
muscular groovelets. Beyond the prominent and strongly developed 
“oblique tubercle” and “ ulnar convexity,” we find in all of these birds 
a triangular depression on the palmar aspect of the bone, which lodges 
pneumatic perforations already referred to. These bones are very much 
alike in their general characteristics, among these Vultures there being 
no very decided points of difference in them beyond their size; this ap- 
