VULTUR. 3 



with small hexagonal reticulations. The wings are long but rounded. The 

 tail is rounded. 



In Britain they are only accidental visitors, the true geographical range 

 of the genus being confined to the South Palaearctic, Ethiopian, and 

 Oriental Regions. It is a remarkable fact that there are no Vultures in 

 Australia. 



Their principal food is carrion. 



Some Vultures breed in trees ; but most of the species prefer the clefts 

 of rocks. Their eggs vary from white to deep brownish red. 



The two species which have occurred in Britain may easily be distin- 

 guished by their size, the Griffon Vulture having a length of wing from 

 28 to 30 inches, whilst the wing of the Egyptian Vulture only measures 

 from 18 to 20 inches. There are only sixteen species of this genus 

 known, which may be arranged in six subgeneric groups. The Vultures 

 of the Xew World belong to a perfectly distinct genus. 



