LOPHOGYPS OCCIPITALIS,. 5 
of the skin on the sides of the neck, which produces the ear-like 
flaps that give to this Vulture its specific name; and north of the 
equator, the great majority of examples seem to be destitute of this 
appendage. Some observers have even stated that this peculiar fold 
of the skin is never found in the more northern specimens of this 
bird, and many naturalists have therefore considered that these more 
northerly specimens in reality belong to a distinct species, which has 
received the name of Vultur nubicus (Smith). I have not as yet 
adopted this distinction, considering that further observation is in- 
dispensable before the question can be considered as satisfactorily 
determined; and I may also observe that the Abyssinian specimen in 
the Norwich Museum certainly shows traces of the folds in question 
on the sides of the neck.” In the British Museum are three birds 
from Shoa, obtained by Sir W. C. Harris, which have also slight ear- 
lappets, but decidedly less developed than in the South African bird, 
Dr. A. Brehm has recently insisted (J. f. O. 1872, p. 71.) on the 
northern and southern birds being considered distinct species. 
General colour above, brown; head and neck bare ; upper part of 
breast covered with short brown feathers, surrounded by a ring 
of white down; feathers of abdomen elongated, dark-brown in the 
centre, light-brown at the edges; thighs covered with thick white 
down. Length, 4’; wing, 2’ 7”; tail, 13”, 
Fig. Temm. Pl, Col. 426, 
4, LopHoGyYrs occIPrTaLis. White-headed Vulture. 
Vultur occipitalis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 5 (1867). 
This Vulture was first discovered in South Africa by Dr. Burchell 
on the Makwarin River. We received two specimens from the late 
Mr. R. Moffat, jr., which were killed at Kuruman, where Mr. James 
Chapman tells us they are plentiful, and that their habits assimilate 
to those of the common Vulture. It is possible that the late Mr. 
Chapman, who was more of a sportsman than a naturalist, has made 
a mistake in the above identification, as his remarks are somewhat at 
variance with those of other observers. It hardly appears to come 
within the boundaries of this colony, and in Natal Mr. Ayres says it 
is much rarer than the other Vultures, ‘only going in pairs, and 
generally coming to feed when the other kinds of Vultures are not 
present.’ Dr, Kirk mentions this species as having been doubtfully 
