Dr. A. L. Adams on the Birds of Egypt and Nubia. 7 



to whom I am greatly indebted for valuable aid on former occa- 

 sions*. 



Neophron percnopterus 



Breeds among the lofty crags along the banks of the Nile, in 

 Nubia. The iris is brown in young birds and until the second 

 year, when it becomes reddish, more so in the old f- The adult 

 plumage is not attained until the third and fourth year, as 1 

 observed in a tame specimen in my possession. Being the Rak- 

 ham of the Arabians and Hebrews, this is the Gier Eagle of 

 Leviticus xi. 18. The Egyptian Vulture is frequently repre- 

 sented on the sculptures ; but there is no proof that it was wor- 

 shipped. The " bird and globe/^ representing a king or Pharaoh 

 (according to Horapollo, " an Eagle "), is not feathered to the 

 toes, and its slender bill and general outline bear a greater 

 resemblance to the N. percnopterus. 



Gyps fulvus. 



Is plentifully distributed over Egypt and Nubia, assembling 

 in great numbers on carcases, and at very short notice ; seldom, 

 however, a day passes that several may not be seen soaring at 

 vast heights. In common with its congeners, this species is timid 

 and easily driven from its repast. I witnessed a Hooded Crow 

 disperse three Griffon Vultures which were feeding on a stranded 

 carcase in the river. 



VULTUR CINEREUS, Gm, 



The dark plumage of this Vulture serves to distinguish it 

 from the last, even at great altitudes. The Griffon, Cinereous, 

 and Egyptian Vultures may be frequently observed sharing toge- 

 ther the same repast. The Cinereous, although not so common 

 as the Griffon, is generally distributed over Egypt and Nubia. 

 I can find no authentic information of either the V. auricu- 

 laris or Gyps vulgaris, of Savigny, having been met with in these 

 countries of late years. Besides the signification of " mother/' 

 the Vulture was sacred to the Egj^ptian Minerva and Lucina, 



* I have attached my initials to my remarks on these specimens, and to 

 the names when I have altered them. — P. L. S. 



t I here take the liberty of correcting an error in my paper on the 

 " Birds of India," Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858, Avherein I have stated the iris to 

 be yellow. 



