236 Dr. T. C. Jerdou's Supjjlementary Notes 



tent was pitched, and gave ntterance to an unearthly hoarse 

 cry in copula, as well during the night as in the day. 



Mr. Hume cannot help thinking that in describing the young 

 of this bird I must have had in view a young G. indicus ; but he 

 may rest assured that I could not have mistaken the birds for a 

 moment ; and my description of the conspicuous pale centring 

 of the feathers of the lower parts of this bird might have 

 shown him the improbability of such an error, without referring 

 to the structural differences of the two. 



Count Salvador! showed me, in the museum of Turin, speci- 

 mens of what has been considered the same species from Africa, 

 but which he has justly, I think, separated as G. a/ricanus. 



6. Neophron percnopterus. 



Our Indian bird is considered by Mr. Blyth to be distinct from 

 the African species, and in that case will stand as A^. ginyinianus, 

 Daudin. The African bird has the corneous portion of the 

 bill black, and the claws black, whilst ours has the bill yellow 

 and the claws fleshy- white. The African bird, moreover, is 

 larger, and with comparatively stronger tarsi and claws. 



Our Indian bird occurs in the north-west Himalayas, and is 

 common in the large stations, up to at least 9000 feet elevation. 



7. Gypaetos barbatus. 



This Vulture is exceedingly common in most of our hill-stations 

 in the north-west Himalayas, and most numerous where there are 

 convalescent depots of European troops stationed, being attracted 

 by the greater abundance of offal and refuse in such places, which 

 certainly form the chief part of the food of this Vulture. At 

 Landour it is very common, and quite fearless of man, often 

 passing overhead within a few yards and alighting on the ground 

 not far from a road. Both in general structure and habits I con- 

 sider Gypaetos most nearly allied to Neophron ; and Mr. Hume, 

 who agrees with me in this, tells me that he has known it (hke 

 the Neophron) to feed on human ordure. In the interior of the 

 hills it is said at times, at all events, to carry off Pheasants, 

 Chukor Partridges, and, occasionally, young lambs ; and Mr. 

 Brooks mentions that a rabbit-yard at Almora was visited by 

 one of these birds, and rabbit after rabbit carried off. I much 



