() Gh) 
size and strong easy flight, together with the rich dark chocolate 
brown colour, above, a bit darker on the wings, tail and lower parts 
of the body; reddish ash cere, base of the bill and unteathered parts 
of the neck; legs are dull yellow, which, seems to be the prevailing 
colour of Raptores’ legs. Length of this species is about 48 inches ; 
expanse of out stretched wings about 9 feet. 
(3) Gyps FULVUS Large Tawny Vulture, is common about Darjeel- 
ing. It seldom descends to the plains. Genus Gyps, as a group, have 
longer bills than Vuléwr. Ruff feathers differ, bemg longer below 
the neck, however this is not readily distinguished from a distance. 
This bird is a little smaller than monachus ; bill greenish. In general 
appearance it is tawny, as though tanned by the sun; lighter in 
colour on lower back and thighs ; dark brown on wing coverts, quills 
and tail. 
Sun-Famity NEOPHRONIN A, (Scavengers) 
These birds have long, slender bills, tip curved, abruptly hooked 
at the tip; cere long; tail wedge shaped ; toes syndactyle ; head and 
face unfeathered, neck ruff of feathers fairly prominent; wings 
strong and pointed. 
(6) NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS, /Vhite Scavenger Vulture. These 
are the Pharoah’s Chickens of ancient and modern times. This name 
refers, most probably to the strict game laws which protected, these 
useful birds, under a tropical sky. Doubtlessly they were favoured 
under some of those monarchs, and fared bountifully when Pharoah’s 
wrath was kindled. There are few places in India where these birds, 
do not offer their services to clean up unhealthy surroundings, usually 
in partnership with Gyps Bengalensis and a few others of like tastes. 
The size of this bird is about 29”. Colour is yellowish white ; black 
on the quills. Our Municipal wire ropeway leads for refuse tubs, shoot 
their conteuts, about, 2 miles down the hill-side. When this mode of 
conveyance was new to Darjeeling, some twenty or thirty Vultures 
could be seen in a long line on the ropeway, taking a free ride. When 
they arrived at the terminus below, they hopped nimbly on to the up 
ropeway, each in its turn, and took a ride up. The reason for this 
apparent diversion, was not far to seek. These Vultures usually 
took a sly peep into the buckets on their downward journey, to see 
if they contained anything in the shape of digestible morsels. This 
however did not always seem to be their chief motive, for ere long, 
they had grown to like uncommonly well the novel mode of locomo- 
tion. Every 100 yards or so, on their journey the Vultures encoun- 
tred the travelling pulleys, on which the buckets worked. It was 
amusing to watch the bird which was leading, look demurely at the 
approaching danger to their toes and claws, and a possible start to 
