382 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithologi/, 



knowledge of the species already described may bring to light 

 properties not hitherto noticed among them. But these, we may 

 almost venture to assert from our general knowledge of the typi- 

 cal character of these birds, and of the mode in which it varies, 

 founded on our observations of their habits and station in nature^ 

 will be found either to be partial modifications of the prominent 

 forms, as in the case of M. Savigny's genera Gyps and j^gypiusy 

 which represent only divisions of the more extensive genus VuU 

 tur^ or to exhibit a greater or less developement of the leading 

 peculiarities of these forms. In some of the more numerous 

 groups of Ornithology, such as the Musdcapidce^ Fringillidce^ fee, 

 where a multiplicity of species and of forms tends to perplex the 

 naturalist in his investigation of affinities, it may be difficult to 

 decide the mode in which nature arranges them without an exten- 

 sive knowledge of species. Here of course the paucity of mate- 

 rials open to the student in this country, so often and so justly the 

 subject of complaint, gives a decided disadvantage to British 

 naturalists, in comparison with those of the Continent, in their 

 speculations on the leading properties of such groups. But in a. 

 limited family like thit of the VulUires^ where their purposes in 

 nature are so conspicuous, and the characters depending on these 

 purposes so prominent and strongly marked, there is compara- 

 tively little difficulty in deciding what are the leading peculiarities 

 of form among them, although we may be denied the power of 

 entering into their details. 



Although I confine myself at present to the typical species of 

 the preceumg forms, I cannot pass over without notice two 

 species described as belonging to this family, which seem to ac- 

 cord with none of the groups which I have particularized. I allude 

 to the New lioUand Vulture of Dr. Latham, which has been 

 figured in the last edition of the ''General Synopsis,"* from a 

 specimen originally in the possession of General Davies ; and the 

 V. audax of the same authour, said to be from the same country. 

 Hitherto no Vulture has been recorded as a native of New Hol- 

 land with the exception of these reputed species ; neither has the 

 genus been found in the neighbouring islands of the Indian ocean, 



* Vol. 1. p. 32. sp. 27. pi. VI. 



