from the colony of Natal in South-eastei-n Africa. 235 



With a few exceptions, they have been forwarded to me by 

 Mr. Thomas Ayres, of D'Urban, whom 1 have pleasure in 

 recommending to the readers of * The Ibis ' as a zealous col- 

 lector of specimens and of information, and who has the addi- 

 tional merit of sending his skins over in excellent order and at 

 very reasonable prices. 



Mr. Ayres has sent me notes respecting most of the birds in 

 the following list. I have inserted the substance of his observa- 

 tions, after the names of the species to which they refer. In 

 some cases I have added a few remarks of my own, which are 

 distinguished by brackets and initials. 

 Cattoii Hall, Norwich, March 1859, 



1. VuLTUR OCCIPITALIS (Burch.). Occipital Vulture. 

 Male. Bill blood-red, black at the tip and light blue at the 



base ; skin round the eye and nostril light blue ; eye light 

 brown ; skin of neck the colour of lilac. These birds arc much 

 more rare here than the other kinds of Vultures, only going in 

 pairs, and generally coming to feed when the other kinds of 

 Vultures are not present ; they are exceedingly shy and wary. 

 This is the only one we have been able to shoot. 



2. Otogyps auricularis (Daud.). Sociable Vulture. 

 Male. Eye very dark brown ; skin of the neck, feet and legs 



pale or llesh-colour. Appears invariably with the large Grey 

 Vulture {Gyps fulvits) ; he is more wary and difficult to get than 

 the Grey. About a month ago, I saw Vultures congregating at a 

 certain spot well-sheltered by bush, so I ran at once to get a shot; 

 after creeping on my hands and knees, that I might not be seen 

 by the birds, through a very thick bush, I got within thirty yards 

 of them. I could see nothing of the beast they were devouring; 

 there were so many of the Black and Grey Vultures {Otogyps 

 auricularis and Gyps fulvus), that they completely covered the 

 poor beast, which was being torn to pieces by inches ; but he 

 appeared to be in the most fearful agony : the loud bellowings, 

 deep breathings, and struggles of the poor ox to escape his 

 tormentors, accompanied with the loud hisses and cacklings of 

 the birds, were sickening to hear. I hastened to fire my first 

 barrel, which brought down only one bird; and then hastily 



