ot 
The name Gyps Africanus, is accordingly bestowed upon the 
latter by the author, but it appears probable that this application 
must give way to that of Moschatus, which, according to Von 
Heuglin (Sitzungsb. A Kad Wien, 1856, p. 256) had been pre- 
viously bestowed upon it by Duke Paul of Wurtemberg.”’ 
It appears to me that the so-called G., Africanus must closely 
resemble, if it be not identical with, our G. Indicus. 
Dr. Jerdon informs me, that he noticed our bird pairing, in 
December in the Bijnour district. These birds, he tells me, 
pair on trees and utter a hoarse roar at the time, which, had 
he not himself watched them, he could never haye believed to 
have been uttered by a bird; a sound of great volume and sui 
generis. 
_ here is one point about al/ these vultures in regard to 
which I should be glad of information, as although I have 
closely examined some hundreds of birds, I have not yet been 
able to satisfy myself thoroughly on the subject. Some speci- 
mens of vultures have ruffs of ong, very narrow, pointed feathers 
springing out of the base of the back of the neck, others of 
the same species, have ruffs of comparatively short thick down, 
without a trace of a single long pointed feather. I used to 
think, that these latter were signs of nonage, but I have seen 
quite young birds, on two occasions, with full down ruffs, and 
I have several birds manifestly adults, with the long pointed 
ruff feathers. I cannot make out that it depends on sex, nor 
that the change is seasonal ; but doubtless the real explanation 
is well known to naturalists, although I have failed to find any 
mention of it. 
No. 6. Neophron Ginginianus, (LArT#.) 
THE WHITE SCAVENGER VULTURE, 
Breeds from the latter end of February to the end of April, 
but the majority I think lay towards the end of March. They 
nest indifferently, it appears to me, on rocky precipices, earthen 
cliffs, parapets or cornices of buildings and large trees. I have 
often found the nests in ledges of the clay cliffs of the Jum- 
na, close to nests containing the young of Bonelli’s eagle, 
or the Jugger Falcon. At Etawah, a pair yearly build on the 
church tower, at the base of the steeple. On the rocky head- 
land known as the Mata Pahar, which juts out from the southern 
shore of the Sambhur lake, whose blue waters it overlooks, I 
found a nest in a cleft of the rock from which I was able to 
take the eggs, without leaving the pathway, and within two 
