149 
and Spurs of Birds’ Wings. 
some preparations made which serve to illustrate several 
new points, or points which I think have not as yet been 
quite clearly understood. These I will take up 'as they come 
before me. 
1. The Wing-claw of the King Vulture (Gypagus papa). 
Dr. It. Shufeldt (Am. Nat. vol. xv. p. 906) was the first 
to show the presence of a claw on the index digit of Cathartes 
atratus and Pseudogryphns californianus; and its existence in 
both species of Cathartes was subsequently confirmed by 
Mr. W. A. Forbes (Am. Nat. xvi. p. 141.). Dr. Shufeldt 
alludes also to its existence in the King Vulture; and I have 
now great pleasure in confirming the presence of a well- 
developed claw in this form of the Cathartidse. The drawing 
given herewith (fig. 1) represents the outer surface of the 
Fig. 1. 
E 
Outer surface of right wing of the King Vulture (Gypagus papa), reduced 
with feathers removed. Cl, claw on first digit. The flesh is re¬ 
moved from the radius (B) and ulna (w). 
right wing of a specimen of this bird that recently died in the 
Zoological Society^ Gardens. The claw (Cl) at the extremity 
of the first finger is small and very slightly curved, hut, as 
will he seen, very distinctly manifest. It measures about 
*015 inch in length. 
I have not yet had an opportunity of examining any 
of the Vultures of the Old World, to see whether a corre- 
