VULTURID^. 3 



elongated and convex ; the manubrial process and the keel well 

 developed. The tongue is of moderate size or small, broad, thick, 

 and slightly divided at the tip. In some of the larger kinds the 

 ■ CBSophagus is dilated in the lower parts of the neck, forming the 

 crop. The stomach is more or less simply a membranous cavity, 

 with the muscular coat thin. The intestinal canal is short, rarely 

 more than twice the length of the body. The co3ca are small and 

 short, except in the owls, and are said to be deficient in many. The 

 gall bladder is always present. The air receptacles are large in 

 most. The trachea is of uniform thickness, and cylindrical in some ; 

 in others it decreases in size downwards, and is somewhat conical. 



The Raptores are divided by most authors into — 1st, Valiuridce; 

 2nd, Falconidis ; and 3rd, Strigidce. Some ornithologists make the 

 genus Gypogeranus into a distinct family. The Polyhorince {Cara- 

 caras, or Hawk Vultures), generally put as a sub-family of the 

 Falconidce, are, I think, entitled to the rank of a distinct family, as 

 well from their structure as their habits. 



Gray, in his last list of genera (1855) gives 1st, Fam. Gypaetidce ; 

 2nd, Vulturidoi ; 3rd, Falconidce ; 4th, Serpentaridce ; 5th, Strigidce ; 

 and Kaup has the same families. 



I shall divide the Raptores into the following families : — 1st, 

 F?//:iMnc?ce (True Vultures) ; 2nd, Po/^/WzWo? (Hawk Vultures); 3rd, 

 SerpentaridcB (Snake Vultures) ; 4th, Falconidce (Hawks and 

 Eagles) ; and 5th, Strigidce (Owls). The 2nd and 3rd families 

 are, however, not represented in India. 



Fam. VULTUIIID.E, Vultures. 



Bill rather long, compressed, straight at the culraen, curved 

 towards the tip, upper mandible never toothed, sometimes sinuate ; 

 cere very large, tarsus reticulated with small scales, somewhat 

 short, stout, usually feathered at the knee ; sometimes slightly 

 elevated ; middle toe long, outer toe joined to the middle one by a 

 membrane, hind toe short, claws ratber blunt, strong, not much 

 curved. 



The Vultures, so familiar to all residents of tropical regions, 

 are birds of very large size, thick, heavy, and ungraceful form ; the 



