THE VULTURE. 29 



lour, and the claws are black. The male Aqui- 

 line Vulture is entirely white, except the quill 

 feathers, which are black, edged with hoary ; 

 but the female is brown, with the same excep- 

 tion of the quill feathers. The Cape Vulture 

 bears a great similarity to the last species, but 

 its head is of a bright blue colour, covered with 

 a yellowish down, and its plumage is somewhat 

 of a coffee colour. 



The Vulture is common in many parts of 

 Europe ; and in Egypt, Arabia, and many other 

 kingdoms of Africa and Asia, he is found in 

 great abundance. In Egypt, and particularly 

 in Grand Cairo, there are great flocks of them, 

 which render a most important service to the 

 inhabitants, by devouring all the filth and car- 

 rion, which might otherwise render the air pes- 

 tilential. The ancient Egyptians were so sensi- 

 ble of the utility of this bird that they made 

 it a capital crime to put one of them to death. 



