Genus NEOPHRON, savigny. 



VULTUR, Linn. Lath. Gmel— CATHARTES, Illig. Temm.— CATHA- 



RISTA, Vieill. 



Ordo I. RAPTORES, Fam. 2 da . Vulturidje, Vigors.— Ord. I. ACCIPI- 

 TRES, Linnams, Latham.— LES OISE AUX DE PROIE, Les Percnop- 

 teres, Cuvier.— Ord. I. RAPACES, Temm.— Ord. III. RAPTATORES, 

 Fam. 3 tia Vulturini, Illiger.— Ord. I. ACCIPITRES, Tribus 1. Diurni, 

 Fam. l a . Vulturini, Vieill. 



Char. Gen. — Rostrum pergracile, rectum ; maxilla basi ceromate, dertro distincto, 

 adunco ; mandibula deorsum curvata, gonyde nullo ; nares longitudinales, laterales, 

 prope cidmen sits. Caput anterius nudum, collo plumoso. Alee longae ; remige 

 tertio longissimo ; rectrices 14. Pedes validi, mediocres, uudi ; ungues subincurvi ; 

 tarso-theca squamulato-reticulata ; acrodactyla scutulata ; pelma scabra. 



Typus Genericus Vultur Percnopterus, Linn. 



X he genus Neophron was first established by Savigny, and has been 

 adopted by Vigors, who makes it one of the five forms recognizable in 

 the family of the Vulturidce. It belongs to the aberrant division, or that 

 in which the groups undergo a considerable modification of the characters 

 which distinguish what is termed the normal or typical division, and which in 

 this family is represented by the genera Sarcoramphus and Vultur. Classed 

 according to its affinities, it holds a station intermediate between the ge- 

 nus Gypaetos, of which the Vultur barbatus of authors is the type, and those 

 species belonging to the New World which form the genus Cathartes, as 

 restricted by Vigors and other ornithologists. From the latter group it 

 differs in having its neck more fully clothed with feathers, in this particu- 

 lar approaching the Gypaeti ; the bill * and legs are also of still weaker 

 conformation, and farther removed from the strength and full develope- 

 ment of those corresponding parts in the two typical forms of the family. 



* The form and shape of the bill approaches very closely to that of Tachypeies, one of those 

 oceanic birds which appear to connect the Nalatores with the terrestrial order of Raptores. 



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