128 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



Dove, Sandgrouse, and Wild Goose, on my own ; and in a 

 few cases where our names differed considerably from his, 

 I have thought well to give both. Any discrepancy is 

 easily accounted for by the difference in dialect between 

 Upper Egypt and the Delta. 



Let me say also that my best thanks are due to 

 Mr. T. B. Hughes for the loan of his large collection, and 

 also to the Hon. E. Russell and Mr. S. C. Buxton for their 

 assistance. I have also to thank Captain Shelley for kindly 

 giving me access to his Egyptian skins, and Mr. E. C. Taylor 

 for a like civility. 



■Jf L Sociable Vulture, Vultur mibiais. 



On the 2 1st of April, one of the largest Vultures I ever 

 saw was killed in the act of flying from a carcass on the 

 river near Bellianeh. This immense brute measured 109 

 inches from tip to tip, and looked, when hung up on the 

 boom to dry, larger even than a Griffon. It was 39 inches 

 long; the wing from carpus 30; the tarsus 5^ ; weight \^\ 

 lbs. The head was bare, and of a purplish flesh colour. 

 The skin of the crown white ; round the ear a few feathers ; 

 the chin coated with black bristles pointing backwards ; 

 mouth purple ; eye hazel ; legs and cere bluish. No 

 feathers on the sides and thighs ; these parts were entirely 

 covered with down. It is possible that this species may be 

 much commoner than is supposed in Egypt. 



2. Cinereous Vulture, Vultur mojiac/ms (Linn.). 



We saw this species not unfrequently ; at least some of 

 the Vultures were so very dark that I set them down as 

 this species. I believe Von Heuglin found it rarer than the 

 Sociable Vulture ( Vultur nubicus), from which it is not 

 easily distinguishable at a distance. 



