542 Mr. P. T. L. Dodsworth on the Vultures 1 



to be seen on the same cliffs, but what liappens to th em ? 

 How is it that they do not also breed ? We have not ;iced 

 this somewhat singular state of affairs to prevail among o/ther 

 birds (though do not remember ever having seen it discussed 

 anywhere), and have found that a large proportion in 'each 

 group do not breed at all during the year, while othe rs of 

 the same species are actively nesting. Our ignorant 3e in 

 regard to the real nature of the causes which act as a check 

 to the increase of organisms is still most profound, but it 

 seems to us that, if our observations in this respect; are 

 correct, and are found hereafter to be more or less of uni- 

 versal application, some additional light might, perhaps, be 

 thrown on the general question of the bar to the mull ipli- 

 cation of species. 



5. Gyps teniiirostris Hodgson, The Himalayan Long-billed 

 Vulture. 

 Blanford, Fauna Brit. India, Birds, No. 1195. 

 Blanford gives the distribution of this species as "thrcugh- 

 out the lower Himalayas, and near their base as far west as 

 Kashmir, etc.," but we have never seen this bird in the i0T.c;i' 

 hills here. According to Ward (Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. 

 Soc. vol. xvii. 1907, p. 728) it is to be found " on the outer 

 slopes of the Punjab range,''' but further observations appear 

 necessary. 



G. Pseudogyps hengalensis (Gmelin). Indian White-backed 

 Vulture. 

 Blanford, Fauna Brit. India, Birds, No. 1196. 



The Indian White-backed Vulture is common in these 

 regions from about the beginning of April to about the end 

 of October or middle of November, and at such times ascends 

 the hills to altitudes of from 7500 to 8000 feet. During the 

 winter months it moves down to lower elevations (4000 feet). 

 It is therefore subject to a partial migration. 



It associates freely with the Himalayan Griffons, and we 

 have seen both species feeding simultaneously off the same 

 carcass. 



