FALCONIFORMES : CATHARTIDAE 137 



from Central Madagascar, found at a depth of twelve to fifteen 

 feet with another species Ghenalo'pcx sirabensis} 



Order VII. PALCONIPORMES. 



Next to the aquatic Anseriformes may be placed the large 

 and important terrestrial Order Falconiformes, with its Sub-Orders 

 Cathaetae and Accipitees. The former contains the New- 

 World Vultures {Cathartidae or SarcorhampMdae), possessing 

 striking differences of structure from their allies ; '^ the latter, the 

 Secretary-Bird {Serpentariidae), the Old- World Vultures {Vul- 

 tivridac), the Carrion-Hawks, Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and their kin 

 {Falconidae), and the Ospreys {Pandionidae). All agree in the 

 strong "raptorial" bill with basal cere, the U-shaped furcula, the 

 large crop, the carnivorous habits, the great powers of flight, 

 the superior size of the female, and the long nest-occupation of 

 the young ; but the Cathartae differ in having pervious nostrils, 

 no syringeal muscles, less flattened metatarsi, and so forth. 



Fam. I. Cathartidae. — These Vultures range from tropical to 

 temperate America, and are often of immense size ; the bill is 

 strong, hooked, but blunt; the feet are clumsy with small scales; the 

 scutellated toes, of which the mid-digit is longest and the hallux 

 somewhat elevated, are unfit for grasping ; the claws are obtuse 

 and little curved. The ample wings have eleven primaries and 

 from twelve to twenty-five secondaries ; the moderate tail is even 

 or rounded, with twelve rectrices, or fourteen in Pseudogryphus. 

 The head and long neck are commonly Ijare, but the latter may be 

 covered with stubbly down, which in Gyparclius papa extends to 

 the occiput ; the naked skin is often brightly coloured and accom- 

 panied by caruncles, while the crop is bare in Sarcorhamphus and 

 Gyparehus. The eyes are prominent, the cere is horny and some- 

 times very long, the tongue thick and fleshy, the aftershaft absent. 

 The sexes are alike in plumage, with evenly distributed down, 

 and the nestlings soon develop a white or rufous covering. 



Though, generally speaking, predaceous, the members of this 

 Family only attack disabled animals, or often act chiefly as 

 scavengers, whence the smaller forms are commonly found near 

 the abodes of man and even in towns. The larger species sail 

 high above the earth with easy, long-sustained, and majestic flight, 



1 Andrews, IMs, 1897, pp. 344-355. °- Huxley, P.Z.S. 1867, pp. 463-464. 



