54 



group adjacent to the Corali coast in Eastern Afi-ica. In the 

 letter-press of Baedeker's " Eui'opean Eggs," it is stated to 

 have also oeciuTcd in Corsica and Sardinia, but I cannot but 

 think it probable that this assertion may be grounded on some 

 accidental error or misapprehension. The Pileated Vulture 

 differs considerably in si^e in different localities ; those from 

 South Africa being the largest, and those from the West 

 African coast, north of the Equator, being the smallest. The 

 average size of specimens fi'om Abyssinia appears to be inter- 

 mediate between these two extremes. This Vulture is some- 

 times found in families, but fi-equently in larger companies, 

 especially when attracted by food. 



Dr. Eichard Vierthaler, who observed this bird in Sen- 

 naar, states that it there associates with Neophron percnopterus^ 

 which it entirely resembles in its habits; fi'equenting the 

 vicinity of human dwellings, and feeding on carrion and excre- 

 mental substances, in the same manner as the Egyptian 

 Vultui-e in all respects. This observant traveller (whose very 

 interesting account of the birds of Sennaar was published in 

 the " Naumannia" for 1852) found the Pileated Vulture nesting 

 in Sennaar in the months of December, January, and February, 

 and gives the following account of its nidilication : — '■'■ Neoj^hron 

 pilcatus breeds here in large numbers. The nests are placed, 

 without exception, upon tall Mimosa trees, some in forks, 

 some in strong branches close to the trunk ; they are altogether 

 very rudely put together of coarse twigs, and vary in size con- 

 siderably. The basin of the nest is so small that an unfeathered 

 nestling finds but just enough room in it. The eggs, of -which 

 there is but one to be found in each nest, vary as much in size 

 and shape as in the marldngs. The shape is most frequently 

 that of the usual egg shape, less fi-equently they are roundish 

 or piu'c oval. The groimd coloiu* is a du'ty yellowish white, 

 less frequently greyish white, with rusty red, or dirty yellow 

 red spots or larger patches. These patches form with some only 

 a wreath, or cover completely the outer quarter, with others 



