4 EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 



for the most part it finds its proper and legitimate sustenance 

 in sufficient abundance. 



As before observed, it is extremely abundant on the northern 

 shores of Africa, but becomes gradually less frequent as the 

 latitude becomes higher. It is held in much and deserved 

 respect in those countries of which it is a denizen, as acting 

 gratuitously, through a benevolent arrangement of Providence, 

 the part of a scavenger, by devouring all decaying animal 

 substances which would otherwise still further putrefy, and 

 rapidly become fruitful sources, in these hot climates, of pesti- 

 lence, disease, and death. Its habits in fact are those of the 

 other Vultures, except that it is of a more timid character. 

 It is occasionally seen in small flocks; and is sometimes tamed. 



The Egyptian Vulture builds on high and inaccessible preci- 

 pices, and lays from two to four eggs, which are generally 

 white, or bluish white, but sometimes mottled a little with 

 brown, and occasionally as much so as those of the Kestrel; 

 they are widest in the middle, and taper towards each end. 



It makes its nest about the end of March, and the young 

 are hatched late in May, but remain in the nest until July, 

 as they are not ready sooner to take flight. 



The adult bird is about two feet seven inches in length. 

 The base of the bill is bare of feathers, and of a pale flesh - 

 colour; the space between the bill and the eyes is covered 

 with a white down; iris, red; front of the crown and cheeks 

 also bare of feathers, and flesh-coloured; back of the crown, 

 feathered with a sort of crest, which the bird has the power 

 of raising when in any way excited; throat bare of feathers, 

 and flesh-coloured; the feathers on the lower part of the neck 

 long and pointed. The whole of the rest of the plumage, 

 white or yellowish white, with the exception of the greater 

 quill feathers, which are black, and the bases of the secondaries, 

 which are brown. The legs and toes are pale yellowish grey; 

 the toes partially reticulated, the middle one having five scales, 

 and the outer and hinder ones, three each; the outer and 

 middle ones are united at the base; the claws black, and not 

 strongly hooked, as in the Eagles, owing to the different use 

 they are required for. 



The female resembles the male, but is a little larger. 



In the young bird the whole plumage is of a dull greyish 

 brown, with yellowish spots on the tips of the feathers; the 

 quills black, as in the adult. As it advances in age, the 

 dark parts of the plumage become of a rich purple brown. 



