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EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 



North-west India, but eastward its representative is a smaller form, 

 JY. gingittianus, which has a yellow bill. 



The nest, built of branches, and warmly lined with hair and wool, 

 has sometimes as a foundation a former abode of the Bearded 

 Vulture, Raven or other large bird, and is usually placed on a ledge 

 of rock ; but in Turkey it is often in cypress and other trees, while 

 in Spain it is sometimes on the ilex. The 2 eggs are seldom laid in 

 Europe before April loth ; they are creamy-white, blotched and 

 often richly suffused with chocolate-red : measurements 2 '5 by 2 in. 

 This Vulture feeds on the lowest animal and vegetable refuse, dung 

 of all kinds, and bones from which the Griffons have stripped the 

 flesh ; it may also be seen following the plough, with long, slow 

 strides, for what it can pick up. But though repulsive in its habits 

 it appears to advantage on the wing, circling round without a flap of 

 its outspread pinions, or at times sweeping low over the ground, like 

 a Harrier. 



The adult is white, with black primaries ; the fore part of the 

 head and neck being yellow and devoid of feathers ; bill horn-brown ; 

 irides crimson ; legs and feet flesh-colour. Length 26 in. ; wing 

 19 in. The young bird (represented in the vignette) is dark brown, 

 with greyish head and neck ; irides brown. In confinement the 

 full plumage is not attained until the third year. 



