44 



in companies during stonny -weather, when they soar to a 

 great height; they also collect in considerable munbers when 

 attracted by food, but at other times are usually seen alone or 

 in pairs. They are, however, frequently observed to congi-egate 

 in groups of about eight or ten immediately before the period 

 arrives for pairing and nidification. They choose secluded spots 

 for the purpose of incubation, occasionally on rocky cliffs, but 

 more often in *wampy thickets ; in the hollow of a fallen tree ; 

 or under the shelter of the prostrate trunk, and occasionally, 

 though rarely, among the projecting roots of a tree still stand- 

 ing. In Peru, they select small sea-girt islets, or sandy ledges 

 near the sea shore. In the Falkland Islands, Captain Abbott 

 (in his paper on the birds of that locality, published in the thii'd 

 volume .of the " Ibis") states that " they lay their eggs two in 

 number, but sometimes three, under a high bank amongst 

 bushes, or on the top of a dead balsam log, without constnict- 

 ing any sort of nest." In some localities, however, on the main 

 land, especially in northern latitudes, the Aura Vultures do 

 construct nests, though only of a very slight character. The 

 colour of the eggs is a dirty white, splashed chiefly towards 

 the larger end, with irregular markings of dark brown. The 

 male and female bii'ds alternately share the work of incu- 

 bation. The cere and bare skin on the head and neck of the 

 Aura Yulture are of a purpUsh red ; but Mr. Gosse, in his 

 work on the birds of Jamaica, states that the colour of the head 

 " varies in the same individual, being sometimes purple, then 

 in a few minutes bright red ; and, when dead, is a dull lake- 

 pink." The legs and feet are of a dull jiink. Captain Abbott, 

 in the paper already referred to, remarks that " the young birds 

 of the first year have the bare space on the head and neck of 

 a blueish colour, as also the feet ; in the mature bird both these 

 are piak." Thfe irides in yoimg specimens are a yellowish 

 brown ; they assume a deeper brown as the age of the bii-d ad- 

 vances, and finally acquire a carmine tint, with the exception 

 of the inner circle of the iris next the pupil, which is usually 



