150 Contributions to- the Ornithology of India, ^c. 



our birds are distinct, or that tlie " fnlvus" of Europe lias usual- 

 ly been described from specimens long- kept in confinement, 

 which have in consequence assumed altogether abnormal and 

 unnaturally pale tints. 



Is it not however just possible, that Yio'^h fulims and fulvescens 

 occur in Europe, and that they have been confounded? 



If ornithologists here would only pay a little attention to 

 vultures, we might amongst us soon settle the question ? Can 

 any one succeed in shooting, 2, fulvescens ,■ va. the typical fulvus 

 plumage? I myself have tried for years, even to get a sight of 

 one, but hitherto without success. I am naturally inclined to 

 believe that Mr. Gurney must be right, but I want the matter 

 finally set at rest. 



What by the way is the vulture that Schlegel separates as 

 vultur fulvus orientalis ? Surely this is oux fulvescens or the wes- 

 tern European link connecting this latter with the true fulvus. 



When on the subject of vultures it is well to note, that I 

 have some reasons for believing that the sub-Himalayan thin 

 billed vulture, which seems always to breed on trees, (Hodgson's 

 ^(^i'm^eg^* as his drawings clearly prove), at all times apparently 

 a darker bird, is distinct from our plains species which always 

 breeds on cliffs, the adults of which are very pale. If this be so, 

 then it remains to make certain whether Scopolis name of indicus 

 really applies to our bird which is apparently doubtful. If not 

 the bird described by me (Scr. Bk., p. 23), will need a name and 

 may perhaps stand as pallescens, nobis, as for indicus, Tem., 

 p. c. 26, although this plate is said to have been taken from a 

 specimen oi fulvus, I cannot avoid suspecting that it represents 

 fulvescens. 



6.— Neophron ginginianus. Baud. 



I take shame to myself, that I neglected to procin-e a good 

 series of Neophrons in Sindh, at Gwader, and at Muscat. In all 

 these localities, it swarms wherever human habitations are found, 

 and in the most uninhabited parts, even of the Kelat Hills, a pair 

 may occasionally be met with. 



Mr. Ely th, it will be remembered, separates the Indian race 

 from percnopterus , L., under Daudin and Latham's name, on the 

 ground that the Egyptian bird " is larger and more robust, the 

 tarsi and toes, conspicuously so. The corneous portion of the bill 

 is black and the ceral portion is of a reddish yellow, different from 

 the purer yellow of the cheeks, the talons also are black, and the 

 cuneate tail passes the tips of the closed wings by an inch or more. 



" In the Indian birds the corneous portion of the bill is a pure 

 yellowish flesh colour, as are also the talons ; the ceral portion 



