CORVULTUR ALBICOLLIS 135 



Adult. General plumage glossy black, with a broad white collar round 

 the back of the neck ; feathers of the throat more lanceolate than in 

 C. crassirontris, and, like the foreneck, dull brown, contrasting with the 

 remainder of the under surface, and is separated from it by a somewhat 

 concealed white band, the feathers of which are either edged with white 

 or pure white, sometimes v/ith dark brown margins. " Iris hazel ; bill very 

 dark brown, with the ends of the mandibles whitish horn colour; tarsi and 

 feet brownish black " (Andersson). Total length 18o inches, culmen 3-0, 

 wing 16-0, tail 71, tarsus 3-0. J , Nyika Plateau (Whyte). 



Immature. More dusky brown ; the white collar at the back of the 

 neck mesially streaked with brown towards the upper back ; the white 

 collar on the fore-chest very distinct, Ijut all these feathers are mottle 

 with brown. 



The Whitc-uccked Corbivau ranges southward from 1° X. 

 hit. over the eastern half of Africa, and into Xamaqualaud 

 and Cape Colony. 



With regard to its -western range, Andersson, who calls it 

 the Southern Corbivau, writes : " This Eaven-like-looking bird 

 is not, to my knowledge, an inhabitant of Daniaraland, but 

 is abundant in the southern portion of Great Xamaqualand, 

 where it remains throughout the year. It is generally found 

 singly or in pairs, but sometimes congregates in flocks. It 

 perches indiscriminatelj- on rocks and trees, and may 

 occasionally also be seen perched on the backs of cattle, and 

 many species of wild animals, whose hides it examines in 

 search of parasitic insects ; it, however, passes most of its 

 time upon the ground, where it stalks about with ludicrous 

 gravity, uttering at intervals cries not unlike those of a true 

 Eaven. Carrion probably constitutes its chief nourishment ; 

 but it is said also to attack with ferocity and success the 

 young of the smaller quadrupeds. The flight of this species 

 is powerful; and it occasionally rises to a great height." 



Eegarding the habits of the species, Stark writes: "Found 

 alike on the coast, among the mountains and on the high 

 veldt, as well as in the Karroo and the sandy wastes of 



