Egyptian Vulture 



247 



cularis) is the larger, being some forty-five inches in length. It is found occa- 

 sionally in 'sou them Europe, but principally in Egypt and tropical Africa, being 

 brown in color, and has the inner surface of the thighs feathered, whereas the 

 other species, known as the Pondicherry Vulture (O. calvus*), has the inner 

 surface of the thighs naked. The latter is a much smaller bird with the plumage 

 black, and it is found in the Indian peninsula and the Indo-Chinese countries. 

 They build nests of great size, which are often used from year to year, one de- 

 scribed by Hume containing over 600 pounds of material. The nests are always 

 placed in trees, especially the tall banyans. 



Egyptian or White Vulture. The last that we shall have space to consider 

 is the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus} , or, as it is sometimes called, 

 the White Vulture, White Crow, or " Pharaoh's Chicken." It attains a length 

 of some twenty-five inches and is distinguished from all other members of 

 the group by its elongated nostrils and long, slender, but not very strong, beak. 

 The color of the plumage, with the exception of the black wing-feathers, is 

 whitish throughout, whence of course its names. It is especially common 

 throughout the countries surrounding the 

 Mediterranean and thence extending through 

 Africa and eastward to northwestern India. 

 It is a typical scavenger Vulture, feeding on 

 carrion, offal, and refuse of all kinds, and 

 has earned for itself the name of being the 

 most disgustingly loathsome member of the 

 whole group, and yet with all it is regarded 

 a valuable member of society and is care- 

 fully protected wherever it dwells. This 

 protection has consequently given it con- 

 fidence in the presence of human beings, 

 and it frequents towns and cities, where it 

 is said not to be an uncommon sight to see 

 them " wrangling for some scraps of offal 

 among the very feet of horses and camels 

 of a market place." The nest, a bulky 

 affair of sticks and lined with rags, is placed 

 on rocks, buildings, or even on trees, and 

 often in, or close to, towns and cities. The eggs, two or sometimes three or 

 four in number, vary from greenish or reddish white to a dingy blood -red 

 color, usually spotted or blotched with brown. 



Lammergeier. As possibly showing a transition from the Vultures to i 

 the Eagles we may briefly mention the so-called Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier 

 (Gypaetus barbatus), a magnificent bird of central Europe and the Mediterranean 

 countries, whence it extends to central Asia, the Himalayas, and northern China. 

 It differs markedly from the true Vultures in having the head feathered, but 

 otherwise its structure and habits would seem to ally it more with them than 

 with the Eagles. It would probably be entirely justifiable to create a sub- 



FIG. 79. Egyptian Vulture, Neophron 

 percnopterus. 



