226 AVES. 



VuLTUR, Lin. 



The Vultures have eyes even with the head, and reticulated tarsi, 

 that is, covered with small scales ; an elongated beak, curved only at 

 the end, and a greater or less portion of the head, or even of the 

 neck, divested of feathers. The strength of their talons does not 

 correspond with their size, and they make more use of their beak 

 than of their claws. Their wings are so long, that in walking they 

 keep them in a state of semi-extension. They are a cowardly genus, 

 feeding oftener on carrion than on a living prey ; when they have 

 fed, their crop forms a great protuberance above the fourchette, a 

 fetid humour flows from their nostrils, and they are almost reduced 

 to a state of stupid insensibility. 



VuLTUR, Cuv. 



The Vultures, properly so called, have a large and strong beak, 

 the nostrils pierced transversely at its base ; the head and neck 

 without feathers or caruncles, and a collar of long feathers, or of 

 down, at the root of the neck. They have hitherto been found only 

 in the eastern continent. 



V. fulvuSf Gmel. ; V. frencalos, Bechstein .; Le Percnoptere, 

 Buff. Enl. 326, and Le Grand Vaiitour, Id. Hist, des Ois, I, in 

 4to, pi. V;(l) The Vulture, Albinus, III, i; Nauman, pi. 2. 

 (The Fulvous Vulture.) Grey, or of a brown verging upon 

 fulvous; the down on the head and neck, cinereous; collar 

 white, sometimes mixed with brown ; quills of the wing and 

 tail, brown ; beak and feet lead coloured ; belly of the adult 

 white. It is the most universally diffused species, and is 

 found on the mountains of the whole of the eastern continent. 

 Its body surpasses in size that of the swan. (2) 



V. cinereus, Gmel. Col. 425; Nauman, pi. v; Viellot, Gall. pi. 

 i ; .>5man of La Peyrouse; Black Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, 8cc. 

 (The Brovvn Vulture.) A blackish brown ; the collar mounting 

 obliquely towards the occiput, which is furnished with a tuft of 

 feathers ; the feet and the membrane of the base of the beak of 



(1) The history of the Grand Vautour of Buffon belongs to the following' species, 

 but the figure is that of the fulvus. 



(2) The Fautour des Indes, Lath, and Sonnerat, Tem. Fl. Col. 26, is at least a 

 closely allied species, as well as the Chassejiente, Vaill. AfTr. pi. 10. Add V. aegypius 

 Tem. Col. 407. V. imperialis, lb. 426. 



N.B. The Fawn-coloured Vulture is the genus Gtps of Savigny. The Brotvn 

 Vulture is tlie type of his genus ^CTPrr.s. 



