4.2 Mr. E. C. Taylor's Ornithological 



identity. It will be seen from the list, that, although many of 

 the species obtained by us are not as yet known to visit any part 

 of Europe, still, with two exceptions, they belong to genera which 

 have some representative in European ornithology. I found 

 Egypt a country very rich in birds, especially abounding in 

 Raptores and Grallatores. It seems to be a favourite winter 

 residence for many of the migratory birds, especially the larger 

 Grallatores, which at other seasons visit various parts of Europe. 

 It is, however, perfectly obvious, that, confining the term of our 

 visit, as we did, to three months, and the area of our investi- 

 gations to the immediate vicinity of the Nile, we can have seen 

 but a very small proportion of the species which visit the country 

 during the course of the year. 



RAPTORES. 



1. Gyps fulvus. Griffon Vulture. 



This species I observed generally distributed throughout the 

 country, but nowhei'e very abundant. It seemed to avoid the 

 towns^ and was rather shy and wary. 



2. Neophron percnopterus. Egyptian Vulture. 



Very abundant all through the country, especially frequenting 

 the towns and villages. When wounded it made no attempt to 

 defend itself with its beak or claws, but contented itself with 

 vomiting the contents of its stomach, — a bad habit, to which, as 

 far as my experience goes, the preceding species is not addicted. 

 I find the Egyptian Vulture almost universally figured and 

 described as having yellow legs and feet, and by Mr. Gould in 

 his 'Birds of Europe' it is figured with yellow legs and hazel 

 irides. Now I beg to observe, that, in the very numerous speci- 

 mens which came under my notice, recently killed, and in every 

 stage of transition from brown to the pure white of the adult 

 plumage, the legs and feet were invariably pale flesh-colour, 

 very slightly tinged with brown in the immature birds, but 

 always without the least tint of yellow. The irides are deep red, 



3. Aquila imperialis. Imperial Eagle. 



Gould's Birds of Europe, vol. i. pi. 5. 

 This magnificent bird seems rare in Egypt. We only pro- 



