79 



SUB-FAMILY THE THIRD. 



gypohieraciNj^ or fishing vultures. 



This sub-family consists but of a single species, remark- 

 able as being apparently tbe link by which the Vulturine 

 group is connected with that of the Sea Eagles. 



Genus GYPOHIEEAX (Ruppell.J 



GYPOHIERAX ANGOLENSIS (Gmelin.) 



ANGOLA VULTURE. 



This species (the only one of its sub-family) inhabits the 

 sea- coast and the mouths of rivers in tropical Afiica, extending 

 on the western coast fi*om the Congo as its southward to the 

 Gambia as its northward limit, and also inhabiting the island 

 of Fernando Po, while on the eastern coast it is found in the 

 country of Zanguebar, and on the island of Pemba. 



The head of this species is less denuded of feathers than 

 that of any other Vulture; and this cii-cumstance, combined 

 with the shape of its bill, the upper mandible of which is 

 proportionably more elevated than that of any other Vultui'e ; 

 and its prehensile feet, with roughened soles and sharp talons, 

 indicate its affinity to the sea eagles, which it also greatly 

 resembles in its habits — often seizing living fish in its talons 

 fi'om the surface of the water, whilst at other times it catches 

 the crabs which frequent the shore. It is also said to feed 

 occasionally on the fruit of the palms and on ground nuts. 

 The change of plumage incident to the Angola Vulture, from 



