64 



ence of this egg measures 9| inches, and the transverse circum- 

 ference 8^ inches. The bii'd which laid this egg has the flaps 

 of skin on the sides of the neck very fully developed, proviag 

 that these appendages are not limited to the male sex. The 

 above-mentioned egg (laid iu February, 1859,) has been accu- 

 rately figm-ed in Dr. Bree's work on the " Birds of Europe." 



The same bii-d has subsequently laid five more eggs — beiug 

 one annually during the years 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 

 and 1864 — all laid during the month of Febriiary; the earliest 

 date being the 15th, and the latest the 26th of that month. 

 These eggs are all more or less tinged with rufous, except the 

 last, which is entirely white — the previous one having been 

 nearly so. 



The irides in this species are of a very deep brown, and the 

 eye is remarkable for being fui-nished with a row of large black 

 eyelashes both above and below. The cere, tarsi, and feet are 

 of a lavender grey. The bare skin on the head and neck is of 

 a dull red, which is palest on the crown and brightest on the 

 sides of the head. On the sides of the neck the red is also pale, 

 while on the throat it is tinged with purple, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the lower mandible. In young specimens 

 these colours are paler and are also more or less obscured by 

 minute tufts of very fine white down, which are scattered over 

 the head and neck ; but which, as the bird advances in age, 

 are superseded by fine hairs. Below the lower mandible, this 

 Vulture has a tuft of long bristly hairs, which resemble those 

 in the beard of the Gypaete ; but which, from lying flat on the 

 skin, are less conspicuous than would otherwise be the case. 



It is worthy of remark that specimens of this Vulture not 

 imfi'equently occur both in North and South Afi'ica, in which 

 some of the feathers of the back are of a very much paler 

 colour than the remainder, giving to that portion of the plumage 

 a pied appearance which is very singular. From observation 

 of a specimen in confinement, in which this peculiarity exists, 

 I am able to state that it is by no means limited to young birds. 



