544 On Vultures found in the neujlihourliood of Simla. 



this connectiou we would iuvite a reference to pages 28, 29 

 of Hume's ' Rough Notes.' 



Another poiut worth nientioniug is that, during tlie middle 

 of the day, we noticed that some of the old birds left their 

 nests, which contained hard-set eggs, and sat for a long time 

 by the sides of the structures. The only conclusion we can 

 arrive at in regard to this singular proceeding on the part of 

 the birds is that they were apparently aware that the heat 

 f lom the sun at certain hours was sufficieut for purposes of 

 incubation. 



7. Neophron ginginianus (Latham). The Smaller White 

 Scavenger-Vulture. 

 Blanford, Fauna Brit. India, Birds, No. 1197. 



This is another species which is subject to a partial 

 migration in the hills here. It is common at Sinda 

 (7000 feet) from March to November, and during the 

 summer ascends as high as 8000-8500 feet. In the winter 

 it moves down to the low hills. 



This Vulture breeds in the Plinialayas as high as GOOO feet, 

 and we have taken several eggs in the neighbourhood of 

 Simla. It lays here during the latter half of April. The 

 eggs are invariably two in number. The average measure- 

 ments of 8 Himalayan specimens are 2*57" x lOii". 



The nests are always placed on the ledges of cliffs, and the 

 same nest seems to be frequented year after year. 



These Vultures pair on the ground. We have never seen 

 an immature of this species breeding. 



We have shot these Vultures in various stages of plumage, 

 but have not yet been able to fix definitely the exact period 

 which elapses before a nestling attains the adult jjlumage. 

 So far as our observations go, we ai'c inclined to think that 

 it takes fully three years. 



The Egyptian Vulture — N'eophron percnopterus (Linnaeus) 

 — docs not occur in these parts. 



