The Oologists Record, March i, 1922. 21 



dently of the remainder, and it is possible that the attachment of 

 these feathers to the bone permits of their use as a brake against the 

 wind. It appears to me that these birds, by elevation of these 

 feathers above the plane of the rest of the primaries, avoid too much 

 pressure against the wind, which might otherwise upset their balance. 



My surmise may be open to argument, hut I do not know how 

 otherwise to account for this peculiarity. I have many times 

 watched the soaring and also straight flight of eagles, buzzards, 

 ravens and other large birds, and frequently seen the slight but 

 distinctly upward curve of all the main primaries, but none of the 

 above species betrayed the independent action of two first primaries 

 which the vulture possesses.. 



The South African vultures lay their eggs in late May or early 

 June, which is of course winter-time in that part of the continent, and 

 after a period of about thirty days' incubation the young are hatched. 

 Both parents attend the wants of their offspring, which remains 

 under their care for several weeks before flying is attempted. It is 

 a common sight to see numbers of vultures tearing up and hastily 

 disposing of carrion, and this disgusting spectacle has presented 

 itself to me many times. They squabble and fight over the remains 

 with beak and wing, emitting a curious hissing sound, and a noise 

 which is strangel}' similar to the yapping of a small puppy. Suddenly 

 in the midst of an orgie all noise and scufflings cease, as a huge 

 Black Vulture {Otogyps auric itlaris) descends towards the struggling 

 group, and, until he has completed his fill, the others remain almost 

 silent and motionless spectators only. 



In the Island of Cyprus, where I have lately lived, I found two 

 types of vultures ; also a third which, until my arrival, had been 

 unrecorded. As in South Africa the Eared Vulture was accustomed 

 to spoil the feasts of its relatives, the Kolb's, so in Cyprus, did the 

 Black Vulture {Vultur monachus) cause the Common or Griffon 

 Vulture {Gyps fulvus) to " come to attention " when any spoil fell 

 to the latter. 



An animal about to die, or recentl}' defunct, is usually discovered 

 in the first instance by the ravens, crows and magpies, to be shortly 

 followed by the larger scavengers. These latter quickly disperse the 

 lesser robbers, which, when opportunity offers, actively dodge 

 round about snatching what morsels they can. I found that the 

 vultures did not come immediately to fresh carcases, as these, 

 provided they are untouched by the pariah dogs, are hard to tear up. 



