GENUS I.--CATHARTES, Illiger. TURKEY-VULTURE.
Bill of moderate length, rather
slender, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline
nearly straight and declinate to the end of the large cere, then
decurved, the edges a little festooned, rather thick, the tip descending
and rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle long and rather narrow,
the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the edges
sharp, towards the end decurved. Nostrils oblong, large, pervious. Head
oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its edges serrate with
reversed papillae. OEsophagus dilated into an enormous crop; stomach
moderately muscular; duodenum convoluted. Head and upper part of neck
denuded, being only sparingly covered with very short down. Wings very
long, and extremely broad; third, fourth, and fifth primaries longest,
first much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. Tarsus short,
rather stout, roundish, reticulate. Hind toe very small, second a little
shorter than fourth, third very long all scutellate for more than half
their length. Claws strong, arched, compressed, obtuse.