VULTURIN^S. NEOPHRON. 35 



gorged in pellets. They nestle on the ground or on 

 rocks, forming a rude nest, and laying from two to four 

 ovate or oblong eggs. The young, at first covered with 

 down, remain until fully fledged. 



Only a single individual of one of the smaller species 

 has been shot in Britain. 



GENUS I. NEOPHRON. NEOPHRON. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, straight, slender, slightly 

 compressed ; upper mandible cerate to beyond the middle, 

 with the dorsal line nearly straight, the tip decurved and 

 pointed ; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, 

 the dorsal line convex and short, the sides nearly erect, the 

 tip obtuse. Nostrils large, oblong, medial. Eyes and au- 

 ditory apertures of moderate size. Feet rather short and 

 stout ; tarsus roundish, with small angular scales ; toes scu- 

 tellate only toward the end, the first very small, the third 

 very long, the second shorter than the fourth ; the anterior 

 toes webbed at the base. Claws rather long, arched, mode- 

 rately compressed. Fore part of head and throat without 

 feathers, but with scattered downy or bristly plumelets ; 

 plumage full ; wings very long and broad, with the first 

 quill short, the third longest ; tail of moderate length, much 

 rounded, of fourteen feathers. This genus belongs to Asia, 

 Africa, and Southern Europe. 



1. NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS. WHITE NEOPHRON. 



Adult male and female with the plumage white, excepting 

 the primary quills and basal part of the secondaries, which 

 are black. Young dark brown, patched with brownish-yel- 

 low ; subsequently of the latter colour. 



Male, 27, . . , 18, 2^-, 3J, 3, i|. Female somewhat smaller. 



Generally distributed in Africa, Asia, and the south of 

 Europe. Feeds chiefly on carrion, offal, and refuse, but at- 

 tacks lizards, serpents, and small quadrupeds. In October 

 1825, a young individual was killed in Somersetshire, and 

 was obtained by the Rev. A. Matliew of Kilve, who lent it 

 to Mr Selby, by whom it has been figured and described in 

 his Illustrations. Another individual was seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood a few days. 



