102 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



base, but quite distinct from the inner, the latter being 

 the shortest of the three and about equal in length to 

 the posterior or thumb ; and the length of the wings, 

 which extend when closed beyond the extremity of the 

 tail. The wings are, however, rarely brought close to 

 the body, even when the bird is completely at rest; 

 and this circumstance, together with the somewhat 

 crouching posture in which the Vultures are compelled, 

 by their deficiency in the power of grasping, to sustain 

 themselves, has been frequently adverted to as affording 

 a striking contrast with the bold, upright, and collected 

 bearino- of the Eao-Ies, 



In subdividing the European Vultures, M. Savigny 

 has characterized that which forms the subject of the 

 present article by its naked transversely elongated and 

 lunulate nostrils ; its tongue fringed with sharp points ; 

 and its tail composed of fourteen feathers. Its head 

 and neck are covered with a short, thick, white down, 

 which is wanting only at the lower part in front 

 corresponding with the situation of the crop, where 

 the naked skin has a bluish tinge. A broad ruff of 

 pure white feathers surrounds the lower part of the 

 neck ; and the rest of the plumage, in the adult bird, 

 is of a grayish brown, with the exception of the quill- 

 feathers of the wings and tail, which are of a dusky 

 black. The under parts are somewhat lighter than the 

 upper ; the bill is of a livid colour with a tinge of blue ; 

 the iris of a bright orange ; and the legs and feet grayish 

 brown, the feathers of the inside of their upper part 

 being pure white. In the female the colours appear to 

 coincide exactly with those of the male ; but the young 

 birds are at first of a bright fawn, which is variegated, 

 after the first and second changes of plumage, with 

 patches of gray, and changes to the perfectly adult hue 

 only after the close of the third year. 



