52 



two in number, varying miicli in colom-, from "wliite, spotted 

 with reddish brown, to an entire mottled rufoiis. The Eev. 

 H, B. Tristram, speaking of the nidification of this species in 

 Algeria, says, " The Egyptian Vultiu-e is a much later breeder 

 than most of the other Eapaecs in the Atlas — migratory, and 

 more generally distributed than the other Vultm-es, it lays 

 one, sometimes two, and very rarely three eggs on ledges of 

 rock. While the Gypaete, the Crnerous Vulture, and the Griffon 

 are content with sticks, or rather branches, ' Pharaoh's Hen' 

 heaps on a similar foundation, rags, patches, old slippers, 

 and whole baskets full of camels' hair and wool for the comfort 

 of its offspring. The egg is subject to great variation in colom-- 

 ing, presenting all the varieties of the Osprey, Falcon, and 

 Honey Buzzard. When there are two eggs one is almost 

 always smaller than and inferior in colouring to the other." The 

 Egyptian Vultures remain either in pairs or in families through- 

 out the year, though occasionally collected in somewhat larger 

 numbers by the attraction of food. The representation of this 

 species frequently occurs in the hieroglyphic sculptm-e of the 

 ancient Egyptians, but it does not appear to have ranked as 

 one of their sacred animals. The appellation of Eachama, 

 which this Vultm-e still bears among the Eg^-ptian Arabs, is 

 considered to be identical with the Hebrew word, which in the 

 English version of the Pentateuch is rendered by the term 

 " Gier Eagle." By the Europeans in Egypt this Vulture is 

 called " Pharaoh's Hen," and by the Dutch colonists in Southern 

 Africa it is termed " Wliite Crow." 



The irides are a deep red in adult specimens, and a reddish 

 hazel bro-mi in younger ones. The cere and the adjacent bare 

 skin, as well as that on the crop, are yellow. According to Le 

 Vaillant, the cere is slightly tinged with red, and especially so 

 in the male bird during the breeding season. The tarsi and 

 feet are of a pale flesh coloiu-, which, however, is tinged with 

 brownish grey in immature specimens. 



The Egyi)tian Vultures, in adult and immature plumage. 



