414 Lieut. C. G. Finch-Davies on [Ibis, 



present an immature specimen living in the Pretoria 

 Zoological Gardens, which has almost assumed the adult 

 plumage. This bird still retains a good many of the brown 

 feathers of the juvenile plumage among the white feathers 

 of the head. 



3. Otogyps auricularis (Daud.). Black Vulture. 



As with the previous species, the only part of South Africa 

 in which I have observed this bird is in the South- West 

 Protectorate. There, on the whole, I found it rather scarce ; 

 but one day, while out shooting in the Windliuk district, I 

 came across quite fifty of these huge Vultures feeding on a 

 dead horse in company with a few Kolbe's Vultures {Gyps 

 kolbei). I was rather surprised to see so many together, as 

 in all accounts I have read of its habits this is said to be 

 rather a solitary bird, not more than a pair being usually 

 seen feeding at a carcass at which other species form the 

 majority. They were not particularly wild, and I shot a 

 fine specimen. It may be worth while here to note the 

 colouring of the bare parts of the head and neck in this 

 specimen, as they differ in some respects from the descrip- 

 tion given by Sclater. The general colour of the upper part 

 of the head and neck pale flesh, brightening here and there, 

 especially about the neck lappets, to pale crimson, below tiie 

 eyes and base of lower mandible changing through lilac to 

 leaden blue. 



4. Gyps kolbei (Daud.). Kolbe^s Vulture. 



This is the common Vulture of the greater part of South 

 Africa, and I have met with it almost everywhere I have 

 been. I believe it has not been previously recorded from 

 the South-West Protectorate, but, as I have mentioned 

 above, I met with a few feeding on a dead horse, together 

 with the previous species, in the Windhuk district. 



This is such a well-known bird and so much has already 

 been written about its habits, that I have little to record 

 in this respect, except to note that of recent years it has 

 been the cause of great loss to farmers in some districts, 



