162 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



lation of King of the Vultures; for it is far inferior, 

 both in size and strength, to the gigantic species which 

 are generically associated with it. 



When fully grown the King of the Vultures measures 

 about two feet and a half in total length, and more than 

 twice as much in the expanse of its wings. The hues 

 of its plumage are bright, sharply circumscribed, and 

 strongly contrasting with each other. Round the base 

 of the neck passes a broad ruff of soft downy feathers 

 of a deep ashy gray ; the whole under surface is white, 

 with an occasional tinge of flesh-colour ; the back and 

 tail-coverts are of a bright fawn, which becomes lighter 

 and lighter as the bird advances in age ; and the quill- 

 feathers of the wings and tail, together with the larger 

 coverts of the former, are glossy black. The naked 

 skin of the head and neck is tinged with various bright 

 and lively colours, and forms several remarkable folds 

 and projections. At the base of the beak, which is 

 reddish with a shade of black, the fleshy cere, of a 

 bright orange-colour, is prolonged above and between 

 the nostrils into an elono-ated comb, of about an inch 

 and a half in length, rather lax in its texture, and fall- 

 ing towards either side of the beak indiscriminately, 

 when the head is held in an upright position. A scarlet 

 circle surrounds the eye, the iris of which is almost 

 colourless ; and the remainder of the side of the head is 

 purplish black. The back of the head is covered by a 

 patch of short blackish down ; and behind the eye on 

 either side are several broad and deep wrinkles of the 

 skin giving origin to a thick and prominent fold which 

 extends obliquely downwards along the whole of the 

 neck. This fold is of a reddish brown mingled with 

 blue, and is traversed by numerous lines of minute black 

 hairs. From the upper part of the neck, which is of a 

 bright red, the colour gradually becomes less intense, 



