252 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



The Osprey is seldom found soaring like the other Fish Eagles, except 

 for short periods, evidently for the purpose of rising high enough to look 

 over the surrounding couutry for a fresh pool or stream. He is a cold 

 weather visitor to India, though some appear to remain and build in the 

 Himalayas. 



The nest of this bird is said to be a structure of twigs from the thick- 

 ness of a man's linger to that of his v/rist, and lined with the softer kinds 

 of sea-weed and some 15 feet in circumference. 



Mr. Hume records a nest which he saw in Kumaon, but gives no descrip- 

 tion of it, and Mr. Thompson says he believes its nest is to be found on 

 the Ganges above Hurdwar. Also vide B. N. H. Soc, Volumes XIV, p. 

 556 and XXI, p. 268. 



I have seen the bird in July on the Beas River, in the Kangra District, 

 but have never come across a nest. 



Blanford describes the egg as white, much spotted and blotched with 

 dull red, and measuring about 2 4" by \1". They are said to be more 

 oval in form than any of the Falconidse and almost invariably three are 

 laid, though four have been found in a nest. 



Family VULTURTD^. 

 Type B. 



Genus Vultur, 

 No. 1190. Vultur monachus, The Cinereous Vulture. 



Characteristics. 



Colouration. 



Distribution. 

 Habits. 



Size very large. Top of head, lores and cheeks 

 covered with black fur-like feathers and down. 

 Nostril round ; tail of 12 feathers ; no wattles de- 

 pending from side of neck. 



Rich chocolate brown throughout, sometimes with 

 a ruddy gloss. Under-parts frequently very much 

 darker than the back. This bird varies from a rich 

 brown to almost black, depending on age, the young 

 birds being the paler. Wing quills black. 



Bill blackish brown, darker on upper mandible 

 and tip of lower, paler at sides of upper mandible 

 and base of lower, Cere, gape and the extreme 

 base of lower mandible a pale mauve, sometimes 

 tinged with pink, tlie bare portion of the tarsus and 

 the feet are creamy or dull white. Irides brown. 

 Naked skin of neck livid flesh colour. The upper 

 portion of the tarsus is covered with a dense silky 

 fur in front and on the sides, almost, but not quite 

 meeting behind. 



Length 42" to 45"; wing 30"; tail 17"; tarsus 

 5"; expanse 96" to 118". 



Throughout the Punjab. 



This fine vulture, though met with all over the 

 Punjab, is nowhere very common. It is easily re- 

 cognised on the wing by its great size and uniform 

 deep brown colour. The flight is typically vulturine, 

 the wings being held on the same plane as the body 

 with no tendency to turn upwards, except at the 

 extreme tips. 



If seen rising from the ground it will be found to 

 have a very slow deliberate beat. More often found 

 alone or in pairs than in the company of other 



