17 
The tarsus is clad in front, for nearly, or in some cases fully, 
the upper half, with slightly fulvous white down. The whole 
of the rest of the tarsus, and the back of the joint are quite bare. 
In the distribution of the down on the neck, in the somewhat 
elongated bill, in the paler under-parts, with (in the adult) im- 
conspicuous broad paler centerings to the feathers, and in the 
more pointed character of the feathers of the back, this species 
approaches the true G. Indicus. As compared with the next 
species, (Hulvescens apud nos) the somewhat greater size, the 
sparseness and star-like character of the down tufts about the 
throat and neck, the paler under surface devoid in the adult of 
conspicuous narrow pale centerings to the feathers, the looser 
ruff, longer upper tail coverts, more pointed back feathers, more 
powerful feet, with more prominent scutze and reticulations, 
serve amongst other differences to distinguish it. 
The young bird differs much in its plumage from the adult. 
Seen flying at a little distance, it appears of a pale bronze colour, 
and on the wing, might possibly be mistaken for the young of 
Monachus. When in the hand, however, there is no mistaking it. 
In the arrangement of down about the neck and throat, im the 
colour of the bill, bare skin and feet, and quill and tail feathers, 
it exactly resembles the adult, but the prevailing hue of all the 
rest of the plumage is a rich brown, very deep above, somewhat 
paler below ; every feather, exceptthe greater wing-coverts and 
larger scapulars, with a broad, central, yellowish brown or ful- 
vous stripe. As in the adult, there is a pure white patch on the 
upper back extending to the sides of the middle back, but this 
is usually hidden by the scapulars. ‘The crop patch is a warm 
brown, much deeper and darker than in the adult. ‘The down- 
patch on either side of the crop-patch, and the downy covering 
of the upper half of the tarsus, and the tibia, pure white. The 
striped appearance above described, extends to the wing-lining, 
and ruff of linear lanceolate feathers, at the base of the neck be- 
hind. 
The later secondaries are at all ages very long, and the wings 
very broad. When the wings are closed in the fresh bird, the 
longest primaries are surpassed by the longest secondaries. 
As far as my experience goes, the feet are always dingy pearly 
white or dingy greenish white, in this particular, although 
in none other, approximating to V. Monachus, and differing, 
apparently, from the G. Fulvus of Europe, the legs and feet of 
which are given by Yarrell as lead-coloured. 
Whether our Himalayan bird be really identical with the 
G. Fulvus of Hurope, Africa and Palestine or not, some notes 
on the nidification of this latter, which is at any rate a very 
