2 
Tt lays, it is said, two eggs in the Pyrenees, but with us, would 
probably, like other species of this family, lay normally, only 
one ; just as, in another family, Cirewetus Gallicus, which in some 
parts of the world always lays two, here (I speak from the 
experience of over 20 nests, in several of which the egg was 
nearly ready to hatch off), apparently, never lays more than one 
egg. In colour, the eggs vary from a more or less pure white, 
with scarcely a trace of markings, and this I take to be the normal 
type, to a reddish or fulvous white, richly spotted and marked 
with reddish brown, or brownish red. In shape, they are said 
to be “pointed alike at both ends,” but the egg I saw, (and 
Dr. Bree’s figure corresponds in shape) was a very blunt, 
slightly pyriform oval, one end being decidedly smaller than 
the other. In texture, they are coarse and rough; more so I 
think in the specimen I saw, than those of either Bengalensis or 
Calvus. The lining I omitted to notice, or, if 1 did notice it, 
have now forgotten its colour; but it is probably greenish as in 
other vultures. The egg figured by Dr. Bree, from 'Thienemann, 
measures 3.48 by 2.75, but I should guess this to be a small 
ege, as Bengalensis and Calvus, both smaller birds, often lay 
larger eggs than this. 
Dr. Jerdon had probably never seen much of this bird, when 
he wrote his account of it. In no single specimen, of the num- 
bers that I have killed (or watched with binoculars, from within 
100 yards greedily devouring some carcass) were the “ bill with 
the cere red mixed with ashy,” nor “the naked parts of the 
neck ashy red,” nor the “legs dusky yellow.” Such may be 
the colouring of individuals in confinement, but it has not been 
that of any one of the fifty odd wild birds that I have closely 
examined. My measurements, made in the flesh, moreover scarce- 
- lyagree with his, and so for purposes of comparison I insert my 
own notes taken from numerous freshly killed specimens. 
Length,* 42 to 45. Expanse from 96 to 118. Wing, from 29°5 
to 32; the 3rd primary the longest, the Ist from 3 to 4 shorter, and 
the 2nd from °5 to 1 shorter. Tail, from vent, from 13 to 16 ; the 
outer tail feathers from 1:5 to 3 shorter than the central ones. 
Tarsus, 4.8 to5°5. Tibia, 8 to 8°75. Foot, greatest length, 8 to 9 ; 
greatest width, 5°75 to 6°6 ; mid toe (to root of claw), 3°7 to 4:25 ; 
its claw, along the curve, 1:4 to 1°75; hind toe, 1°5 to 1°9, its claw 
along the curve 1:75 to nearly 2; inner toe 1°6 to 2, its claw 
along the curve 1-7 to 2. Bill from gape 3°6 to 4-0 ; width at gape 
2:2 to 2°5; bill straight from edge of cere to point 2°3 to 2°7; along 
curve from margin of cere, 3 to 3°25; length of cere on culmen, 
* All dimensions are in English inches and decimals of ditto. 
