260 



DIURNAL BIRDS OF PRE Y. 



name more properly belongs to the representative of the genus Vultur. Ranging 

 from India through Burma to Siam, and by no means abundant in individuals, the 

 Pondicherry vulture, according to Jerdon, is usually seen alone or in pairs, although 

 occasionally four or five may be observed huuting in company over some rocky 

 hill. Some of the other Indian vultures usually give place when this species 

 arrives on the scone, on which account it is commonly known as the raj-sogno, 



PONDICKERRY VULTURES GORGING (} nat. size). 



or king- vulture, among the natives of part of India. This vulture is a late breeder, 

 generally laying in March, although some individuals begin as early as the end of 

 January, and others delay till April. It appears to build invariably in trees ; tall 

 peepuls and banyans being its especial favourites. An anonymous writer to the 

 Asian mentions that in April 1887 he came across a nest of this vulture in Sirmur. 

 " Being on the hillside above, I could look right down into the nest ; the owner 

 was sitting very close, and it was only when I got quite near, shouted, and threw 

 sticks at it, that it moved ; then, standing up, it opened its beak and spread out its 



