XXil INTRODUCTION. 
Nycrata, C. L. Brehm.—Bill short, decurved from the base ; cere rudimentary ; 
nostrils nearly circular ; under mandible notched. Ear-conches large, asym- 
metrical, and furnished in front with a well-developed operculum. . Head 
large, the asymmetry of the aural region extending to the skull. Facial 
disk large and nearly complete. Wings long, rounded. ‘Tailshort. Tarsus 
and toes thickly feathered (p. 299). 
ATHENE, Boze.—Bill decurved from the base; cere short and swollen ; nostrils 
oval; lower mandible sinuated. Auditory‘conch large, the orifice small and 
without an operculum. Facial disk not well defined. Wings large, the third 
and fourth quills nearly equal in length. Tarsus long, covered with short 
feathers; toes above with bristles only, instead of feathers. Head round, 
large, and without tufts (p. 301). 
Nyctga, Stephens.—Bill decurved from the base; nostrils large, oval; cere 
short; upper mandible smooth, lower mandible notched. Facial disk 
incomplete. Orifice of the ears moderate, without operculum. Wings of 
moderate size ; the third quill the longest, second and fourth nearly equal. 
Tail rounded and of moderate length. Tarsus and toes thickly covered with 
feathers. Head large, round, not furnished with tufts of feathers (p. 303). 
SurniA, Dumérzl.—Bill decurved from the base and much hidden by feathers ; 
nostrils small and rounded ; cere short ; upper mandible slightly undulated ; 
lower mandible notched. Facial disk nearly obsolete. Orifice of the ears 
small, without operculum. Wings short ; first quill equal to seventh, second 
longer than fifth, third and fourth longest and nearly equal. Tarsus rather 
short and—with the toes—thickly feathered. Tail long and graduated. 
Head flat and without tufts (p. 305). 
Scops, Savzgny.—Bill much decurved from the base, cere small, under mandible 
notched. Nostrils round. Facial disk incomplete above the eyes ; auditory 
conch small, and without an operculum. Wings long, reaching to the end 
of the tail. Tarsus rather long, feathered in front; the toes naked. Head 
furnished with two tufts of feathers (p. 307). 
Buso, Duméré?.—Bill short, strong, curved, compressed at the point. Nostrils 
pierced in the cere, large, oval or rounded. Facial disk incomplete. 
Auditory opening small, oval, without an operculum. Wings rather short. 
Tarsus and toes covered with feathers ; claws long. Head furnished with two 
tufts of feathers (p. 309). 
Order ACCIPITRES. 
Family VULTURIDA. 
Gyps, Savzgny.—Bill strong, thick, and deep, with a short cere, culmen some- 
what abruptly hooked. Nostrils naked and oval. Head slender and covered 
with short down, asis most part of the neck ; above the shoulders a ruff of 
elongated feathers. Wings long ; the first quill short, the fourth the longest. 
Tail of twelve or fourteen feathers. Legs and feet strong ; claws slightly 
hooked ; toes long, the middle toe rather exceeding the tarsus and united 
at its base to the outer toe by a membrane (p. 311). 
NEOPHRON, Savigny.—Bill straight, slender, elongated, rounded above, encircled 
at the base by a long naked cere; upper mandible with straight edges, 
