fc— ' 



TllK GRIIFON VULTURE.* 



This species, M'hicli appears in numerous flocks on the Alps and Pyrenees, abandons 

 them in winter. It has been seen on the Table Mountain of the Cajje of Good Hop(\ 

 which it never quits, except during violent storms from th(^ soutli-east. It has also been 

 met with in -Egypt and the Levant, in Spain and in (he Tyrol. It is common in the 

 neighbourhood of Gibraltar, abounds, during the winter, in Dalmatin, and has been 

 observed to breed on lofty trees h\ Sardinia. 



The griffon vulture is about three feet and a half in length, and eight iVom the tiji of 

 one wing to that of the other. Its head is covered -with small and white feathers ; but 

 those of the occiput and nape form a tuft of about an inch long. The neck is almost 

 naked ; for the short and scanty down with wliich it is sjjrinkled does not i)revent the 

 brown and bluish tints of (he skin from being visible. At the botlom of tlic lUH'k some 

 long feathers are arranged like a rulf of dazzling white. There is a large hollow, fur- 

 nislied w'itli hairs, at the top of the stomach : this is the place of the crop. In addition 

 to this external cavity, there is a bump internally, and a great enlargement in this part 

 of the throat, which raises (he skin of the external hollow, and distends it when (he 

 vulture has (akcn plenty of food. The feathers of the body are of a reddish grey ; tlie 

 quill-fcathcrs of the wings and tail arc black : (he bi\ik lihickish, with a bluish tint in 

 the middle; (he iris is of a (iiic orange; tlie feet and claws are of a blackish hue. 



The plumage; of this vulture varies with ago. In its first year the body is of a faWn 

 colour ; in the two following years, it is varied with grey and fawn, more or loss deep 

 above ; and, in a moi-o advanced age, it is entirely of a beautiful ash colour, wliich is 

 nearly blue. 



We now proceed to con.sidcr another f.^mily of the order of AccirrruES : it is (liat of (ho 

 FAiroNin.i;. The subordinate grou])s into wliich it is divided are EAtn.ns, I'ai.con.s, 

 Hawks, Kites, IJvz/aisds, and Hakuikks. 



* Vultui' I'lilv 



Uriss, 



