Resembling _C. aura_, but much smaller. Plumage on the neck ascending behind, as in _C. atratus_; bill, rather short; tail, rounded; tarsi, rather long. Entire plumage, deep uniform black, without brown edgings. Total length of prepared specimen, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 22 inches, wing 18, tail 8½ inches. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Dr. Burrough), Mazatlan (Dr. Gambel). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada. Obs. This is the smallest of all known Vultures, and though strictly of the same genus as _C. aura_, may readily be recognized by its small size. It is very probably to be found in California, and the late Dr. Gambel thought that he had seen it in that country, and at Mazatlan. (Jour. Acad. Philada. I. p. 26, quarto.) II. GENUS SARCORAMPHUS. Dumeril Anal. p. 32, (1806.) GYPAGUS. Vieill, Anal. p. 21, (1816.) Head and neck naked, the former with an elevated fleshy caruncle. In all other characters much resembling _Cathartes_. 2. Sarcoramphus sacer. (Bartram) The Sacred Vulture. Vultur sacra. Bartram, Travels in Florida, p. 150, (1791.) Original description.—“The bill is long, and straight almost to the point, where it is hooked or bent suddenly down, and sharp; the head and neck bare of feathers nearly down to the stomach, when the feathers begin to cover the skin, and soon become long and of a soft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird, by contracting his neck, can hide that as well as his head; the bare skin on the neck appears loose and wrinkled, which is of a bright yellow colour, intermixed with coral red; the hinder part of the neck is nearly covered with short stiff hair; and the skin of this part of the neck is of a dun purple colour, gradually becoming red as it approaches the yellow of the sides and forepart. The crown of the head is red; there are lobed lappets of a reddish orange colour, which lay on the base of the upper mandible. The plumage of the bird is generally white or cream colour, except the quill feathers of the wings and two or three rows of the coverts, which are beautiful dark brown; the tail, which is rather large and _white_, is tipped with this dark brown or black; the legs and feet of a clear white; the eye is encircled with a gold coloured iris, the pupil black.” Bartram, as above, p. 150, 151.