223 



Serpentarius secretaries, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. i. p. 45 (1874) ; id. ed. 



Lay ard, Birds S.Africa, p. 8 (1875-84); Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. 



p. 3 (1899). 

 Serpentarius serpentarius, Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 241 (1899). 



The eggs of the Secretary Bird are pointed ovals, smooth, fairly 

 glossy, and plain white. Three examples measure respectively: 

 3-05 by 2-2 ; 3-12 by 2-25 ; 3-14 by 2-25. 



1. South Africa. E. L. Layard, Esq. [P.]. 



1. Cape Colony (Atmore). Crowley Bequest. 



1. Cape Colony (E. L. Layard}. Crowley Bequest. 



Sub-Order ACCIPITRES. 

 Family VCILTURIDJE. 



Genus VULTUR, Briss. 



Vultur monachus (Linn.). 



Vultur cinereus, Thien. Fortpflanz. yes. Vog. tab. liv. fig. 3, a-e (1845-54) ; 

 Bree, Birds Ear. i. p. 7, pi. (1866) ; Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 56. 



Vultur monachus, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 25. fig. 1, tab. 74. fig. 2 

 (1855-63) , Tristram, Ibis, 1865, p. 245 ; Elwes $ Buckley, Ibis, 

 1870, p. 63 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. v. p. 383 (1872) ; Sharpe, Cat.' 

 Birds B. M. i. p. 3 (1874) ; Bree, Birds Eur. 2nd ed. v. p. 7, pi. 

 (1875) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 241 (1899). 



The eggs of the Cinereous Vulture are elliptical in shape, the 

 proportion between the two diameters varying, but both ends being 

 always alike. The shell is very coarse and rough and quite devoid of 

 gloss. The colour varies from dull white to pale creamy buff, some 

 being marked with only a few specks of reddish brown at one end, 

 others with uniform deep reddish brown. Sometimes the ground- 

 colour is tinged with pink. Occasionally specimens are almost 

 entirely covered with a coat of dull brownish pink; others are 

 boldly blotched with grey and deep rufous in about equal proportions. 

 As a rule, the markings have a tendency to form a cap over one 

 of the ends of the egg. Numerous specimens measure from 3'45 

 to 3-9 in length, and from 2'6 to 2-95 in breadth. 



1. Spain, 20th March (Howard Saunders). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Spain, 28th March (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Spain, 4th April (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Southern Spain, 13th March (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Southern Spain, 3rd April (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Southern Spain, 4th April (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



1. Southern Spain, April (//. S.). Crowley Bequest. 



1. Castilla, Spain, 7th April (Lord Seebohm Coll. 

 Lilford). 



