ALPINE, OR EGYPTIAN VULTURE. Nicphron percnopterus. 



fearlessly about the streets of its native land, perches upon the houses, and, in common 

 with the pariah dogs, soon clears away any refuse substances that are thrown into the 

 open streets in those evil-smelling and undrained localities. This bird will eat almost 

 anything which is not too hard for its beak, and renders great service to the husbandman 

 by devouring myriads of lizards, rats, and mice, which would render all cultivation useless 

 were not their numbers kept within limits by the exertion of this useful Vulture. It has 

 been also seen to feed on the nara, a rough, water-bearing melon, in common with 

 cats, leopards, mice, ostriches, and many other creatures. The eggs of the ostrich are said 

 to be a favourite food with the Egyptian Vulture, who is unable to break their strong 

 shells with his beak, but attains his object by carrying a great pebble into the air, and 

 letting it drop upon the eggs. 



The wings of this species are extremely long in proportion to the size of the bird, and 

 the lofty soaring flight is peculiarly graceful. It is but a small bird in comparison with 

 many of those which have already been mentioned, being not much larger than the 

 common rook of Europe. The nest of the Egyptian Vulture is made upon the shelf or in 

 the cleft of a lofty rock, and the grey-white eggs are three or four in number. It is a 



