inhabiting the South of Africa. 11 



sent even form the slightest conception. The study of nature, as 

 a popular author* remarks , even when viewed apart from science, 

 " is one of the most pleasing occupations that can engage the 

 attention of reasonable beings. The naturalist reflects upon 

 hidden things, investigates by comparison, and testifies by 

 experience. Perhaps none of the amusements of human life 

 are more satisfactory than the investigation and survey of the 

 workings and ways of Providence in this created world of 

 wonders, filled with his never absent power. The study of 

 nature occupies and elevates the mind, is inexhaustible in 

 supply, and, while it furnishes meditation for the closet of 

 the studious, gives to the reflections of moralizing ramblers 

 admiration and delight, and is an engaging companion that 

 will communicate an interest to every rural walk." Such 

 then entitles the birds of South Africa as a portion of the 

 grand system to a share of our consideration, and to them I 

 shall now proceed. 



Ordo I. RAPTORES. III. 

 Fam. 



Caput collum qneplus minusve nnda ; rostrum pro&cipue forte, 

 adapicem aduncum base lati cerigerum glabrum aut pilorum, 

 simplex aut carunculatum, nares later ales in cer ornate positce, 

 ovales, interdum, elongates, plerumque apertce ; pedes nudce ; 

 tarsi reticulati. Digiti externi membrano connexi. Ungues 

 validi subincurvi vix retractiles. 



Head and neck more or less divested of feathers ; bill very 

 strong, hooked at the point, and with a broad cere at the 

 base, which is either bald or hairy, simple or carunculated ; 

 nostrils lateral, situated in the cere, sometimes elongated, for 

 the most part open ; feet naked ; tarsi reticulated ; outer toes 

 connected by membrane ; claws strong, slightly curved, and 

 scarcely retractile. 



Genus. VULTUR, Auct. 



Caput collum que implumes ; 

 rostrum basi rectum, supra 

 convexum, haud carunculatum. 



Nares transversce, basales ; 

 pedes fortes. 



Head and neck naked ; beak 

 straight at the base ; convex 

 above and without caruncles. 

 Nostrils transverse and basal ; 

 feet strong. 



1. VULTUR FULVUS. White Assvogel of the Colonists. 



Vultur fulvus Gmel. Syst. 1, p. 249, sp. 11. Vultur Leuco- 

 cephalus Meyer Tasschenb Deut. v. 1, p. 7. Vultur percnop- 

 tejrtis Daud. Ois, v. 2, p. 13, sp. 7. V. trencalos, Bech. 

 Naturg Deut. v. 2, p. 479, sp. 2. Le Perenoptere Buff. Ois, 



* The Journal of a Naturalist, page 51. 



p. 2 [3] 



