( 531 ) 



Constantine. There these Vultures were seen by Sclater, Salviii, and others 

 half a century ago, and are still far from rare, in spite of the active blasting 

 and raining operations on the mountain. It is from the Djebel Taya, probably, that 

 these Vultures visit the neighbouring ]ilains and the valley of Hamniam Meskontine, 

 where we have seen tliera occasionally; and one day in May 19U9 a big flock 

 l)assed over the hot springs, prolialily coming from some dead animal on which they 

 had feasted. An adult male was shot on Djebel Taya, at an altitude of about 

 1211(1 m., on May IT, 111(19. 



Iris gold-brown. Feet greenish grey, claws horn-black. Bill pale yellowish 

 horn-colour, ti]i and cere dark slate-colour ; bare skin on neck pale bluish grey. 

 Spread of wings 253 cm. 



Rothschild observed Griftbu Vnltnres at Les Glacieres, near Blidah. We 

 twice saw single ones near Biskra, l)ut never observed any south of Biskra in 

 the real desert. 



l-"il. Neophron percnoptei'us percnopterus ( f..). 



The " Egyjitian Vulture " is common in many parts of Algeria. We saw it 

 frequently at Constantine, near Guelma and Hammain Meskontine, Batna, El 

 Kantara, and Biskra, once near Touggonrt, once near Laghouat, and a few times 

 on the route from Boghari to Laghouat, at Berryan and Ghardaia. Near Ghardaia 

 about a dozen Xeo/jlii-on were seen on a shallow pond feeding on the innumerable 

 Ajios, a Crnstacean which abounds in ponds near Liiglioiiat, in some of the dayats, 

 and in this place near (iluinlaia. 



At El Kantara these A'ultuics nest regularly, and we received an egg whicli 

 is of the usual type. 



l-"i2. Gypaetus barbatus atlautis Ivl. 



Ertiligor. Jniini.f. Orn. \A'.\H, p. .^lilfi, pliitus iv iiilil v. 



'I'lH' Xiirtli-West AlVican Beardeil Vulture is closely allied to tlie Sonth 

 Eiiro[iean one, and stands somewhat in between the latter and the Abyssinian 

 form. It differs from (1. harlxitiiis hurhntus merely in the markings of the face, 

 the black shaft-stripes being fewer and narrower on tlie sides of the head, and 

 almost or entirely absent from the chin and upper throat, and the absence of the 

 j uvular crescent of black spots, though this is probably sometimes indicated. The 

 feathering of the tarsus varies, but it a|)pears to be generally less extended, thus 

 being intermediate between that of the European and Abyssinian forms. Erlauger 

 attached much valiU' also to the lesser sireiigth of the toes and thickness of the 

 tarsus, but these characters, though convincingly shown on Plate \^. by Pastor 

 Kleinschmidt, vary and are therefore not of any taxonomie valne. 



We have now three adult Algerian Lammergeyers : 



? ad. Shot on nest, Djebel Metlili, Marco 'ZX, 1011. Length of wing Til cm. 



? ad. Near Kerrata, North Algeria, May o, I'.MU. Shot by Mr. Fliickiger. 

 Wing, T4 cm. Spread ol' wings, ■.^40 cm. 



i ad. Djebel Taya, May 'J."), 19(19. Wing, 74 cm. 



It will thus be seen that the sine varies a little, but it is not much less, if 

 at all, than in many South European e.\amples. 



The iris is very beautiful : cream-yellow with a wide bright orange-red ring. 

 Bill horn-grey, feet lead-grey, claws dark horn-grey. 



Like otlier great birds of prey, with the exception of some Vidtures wliicli are 



