Vulturidjg.] osteologia avium. [Vulturin^j. 



Spizaetus, Vieill 



Cirrhatus, Kawp. 



Cranium broader in proportion to its length than in Aquila. Lacrymals very long, 

 terminating in an epilacrymal process. Palatine bones similar in shape to Aquila, but 

 much narrower as they approach the hinder portion of the head ; orbital septum with 

 one large central foramen. 



Sternum similar in shape to Aquila. My specimen, which is that of rather a young 

 bird, has two small foramina on the right side of the posterior margin of the sternum, 

 and only one on the other. In other respects the skeleton resembles Aquila ; but some 

 of the measurements approach Circus. 



Measurements. 



Tenths. 



Length of humerus 45 



Length of ulna 52 



Length of radius 51 



Length of metacarpus 24 



Length of femur 34 



Length of tibia 49 



Length of metatarsus 38 



Length of sternum 31 



Illustrations. 

 Sternum, Plate III. fig. 12. 

 Metatarsus, Plate II. fig. 5. 



Tenths. 

 Breadth of posterior margin of sternum 17 

 Breadth of anterior margin of sternum 16 



Depth of keel 6 



Length of head 36 



Breadth of head 20 



Length of pelvis . 34 



Breadth of pelvis 16 



Palatine bones, Plate VI. fig. 8. 



Tarn. 2. VULTTJRID^l. 



Subfam. 1. Vulturin^e. 



Sarcoramphus, Bum. 



Gryphus, Linn. 



Type of Vulturidse and Vulturinas. 



The whole skeleton, as in Falconidce, very strong. 



Cranium longer in proportion to its width than among the Falconidw. The process 

 of the frontal bones bounding the posterior portion of the upper part of the orbits 

 triangular and lengthened ; the orbital septum with a large anterior perforation occupying 

 nearly one-half of the septal plate, and a smaller one posteriorly. Foramen magnum 

 large, rounded, placed nearly perpendicularly. Upper surface of the cranium slightly 

 flattened on the vertex ; no central longitudinal depression. Occipital ridge not very 

 much developed; occipital protuberance large. The whole of the bones forming the 

 anterior part of the head strongly anchylosed together; the nasal orifices are of an 



vol. i. d 17 



