GVPAGUS. 2lg 



b 2 . Plumage commencing on neck with broad, normally developed feathers; 

 primaries not longer than secondaries ; throat without any " dewlap" ; 

 " comb" of adult male attached only to middle of cere, above nostril '■ 

 sexes alike; size medium (wing less than 25.00). 



Gypagus. (Page 219.) 

 a . Cere decidedly longer than upper mandible ; bill comparatively weak. Adult 

 males without fleshy " comb" or lobe surmounting cere. 

 b l . Entire neck bare of feathers ; plumage commencing abruptly with lanceo- 

 late or penicillate feathers, these continued over breast and belly; head 

 much elongated, the upper outline of the cere elevated posteriorly above 

 the level of the flattened forehead ; very large (wing 30.00, or more). 

 Nostril very small, occupying not more than the basal third of the 

 nasal fossae, its anterior end acute; bill small, the mandibles de- 

 cidedly broader than deep, the lower as deep as the upper ; skin of 

 head and neck smooth ; tail even.... Pseudogryphus. (Page 220.) 

 b 2 . Head only, or with only upper part of neck, naked ; plumage commencing 

 gradually on upper part or middle of neck with broad, normal feathers, 

 those of the breast and belly broad and blended; forehead elevated 

 above the upper outline of cere ; bill stronger, with hook of upper man- 

 dible well developed ; much smaller (wing less than 25.00). 

 c 1 . Nostrils very large and broad, occupying the whole of the nasal fossse, 

 both ends broadly rounded ; wing lengthened, the quills reaching to 

 or beyond tip of the much rounded tail... Cathartes. (Page 220.) 

 <?. Nostrils small and narrow, occupying only the posterior half of the 

 nasal, fossee, the anterior end pointed ; wing short, rounded, the 

 quills scarcely reaching to the middle of the even or slightly emar- 

 ginated tail Catharista. (Pago 221.) 



Genus GYPAGUS Vieillot. (Page 219, pi. LXIV., fig. 5.) 



Species. 



Adult : Upper neck (" ruff") plumbeous, the feathers white at base ; tertials, 

 secondaries, quills, greater and primary coverts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, 

 black, the secondaries grayish exteriorly and edged with white ; rest of plumage 

 deep vinaceous-buff or pinkish cream-color above, white beneath ; naked skin of head 

 and upper neck very brilliantly colored in life with yellow, orange, red, blue, etc. ; 

 iris white ; bill dull red in dried skins, said to be orange and black in life. Young : 

 Entirely plain blackish brown, the bill and naked skin of head dusky. Length 

 27.00-34.00, wing 19.00-20.00, tail 9.50-10.00, culmen 1.30-1.40, tarsus 3.60-3.65, 

 middle toe 3.00-3.30. Eggs 3.70 X 2.65, plain white. Sab. Whole of tropical America, 

 except "West Indies, north to southern Arizona ? 



G. papa (Linn.). King Vulture. 1 



1 Vulture papa Linn., S. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 86. Gypagus papa Vieill., Nouv. Diet, xxxvi. 1819, 456. 



