VULTURES. 261 



wings by way of intimidation, at the same time disclosing to view one large white 

 egg upon which it had been sitting. The nest, placed in the crown of the tree, was 

 an enormous mass of sticks, with liner ones as a lining ; and the large round white 

 egg was very nearly hatched." A nest mentioned by Mr. Hume, which had been 

 in use for several years, contained over 6 cwt. of material. 



Abyssinian Nearly allied is the Abyssinian vulture (Lophogyps occipitalis), 



vulture. distinguished by the head being covered with down, which forms a 



ridge on the occiput, and by the absence of the neck-lappets. It is a comparatively 



small species, with blackish brown plumage ; and while probably inhabiting the 



whole of the east side of Africa, is found on the west only in Senegal. 



Egyptian The scavenger-vultures, of which there are two well-defined 



Vulture. species, derive their name from the loathsome nature of the food of 

 their typical representative, which consists chiefly of ordure, and are accordingly 

 the most disgusting of their tribe. They are distinguished from all other vultures 

 by their elongated longitudinal nostrils, and likewise by the slenderness and length 

 of the beak, and are smaller than the other members of the family. The head 

 and neck are partly bare, and the wings long and somewhat pointed, with the 

 third quill the longest. The white scavenger-vulture, commonly known as the 

 Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopteriis), which has occasionally visited the 

 British Islands, and is represented in its adult and immature plumage in the centre 

 of the plate on p. 255, is characterised by the general white hue of the plumage of 

 the adult. The long hackles on the back of the head and neck have, however, a 

 rusty tinge, and the secondary quills are mostly brown, and the primaries black. 

 The typical form, which attains a length of 25 inches, and has the beak of a pale 

 brown horny colour, inhabits the countries bordering both sides of the Mediterranean 

 and Red Seas, from whence it extends southwards to the Cape, and eastwards to 

 Persia and North- Western India. In Peninsular India it is replaced by a variety 

 or species distinguished by its inferior size and yellow beak. In young birds the 

 plumage is of a dirty brown colour, with the back and rump tawny ; and during 

 the intermediate stage the plumage becomes mottled with brown and white. 



The Egyptian vulture is commonly seen in pairs or singly, and when on the 

 ground stalks about with a peculiarly high action of the legs. In addition to the 

 food already alluded to, these birds will also eat carrion ; but their feeble beaks 

 render them unable to tear open the tough hides of large animals, and they have 

 to wait till the carcase is opened by their more powerful kindred. These birds 

 build either 011 rocks or large buildings, or in trees, frequently in the suburbs of 

 towns. The nest is large and composed of sticks and rubbish, usually lined with 

 rags ; its general shape being that of an irregular platform, with a slight depression 

 in the centre. Mr. Hume observes that in many parts of India " wayfarers, as they 

 pass particular trees, have a semi-religious custom of tearing a strip off their clothes 

 to hang thereon, and the tree soon becomes loaded with rags and tatters. These 

 are a perfect god-send to the neophrons of the neighbourhood, whom I have more 

 than once watched robbing these local shrines of their trophies by the score. Some- 

 times the rags of various colours are laid out neatly in the nest, as if an attempt 

 had been made to please the eye ; sometimes they are irregularly jumbled up with 

 the materials of the nest." The eggs, which are generally laid in the latter part 



