A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 217 



in Nepal. Mr. Hume very kindly allowed me to compare my 

 collection in his museum, and the result of this comparison 

 will be found noted with reference to many of the species 

 enumerated ; but I am alone responsible for the identifications 

 and for the views put forward in this paper. 



1.— Vultur monachus, Lin, 



This Vulture is seldom seen in the valley of Nepal, and is 

 decidedly the least common of the six species of Vultures 

 which occur there. It was only identified with certainty on 

 one occasion, when it was seen feeding on the carcase of an 

 elephant at Thankot, in December, in company with calvus, 

 fulvescens and bengalensis. 



2.— Otogyps calvus, Scop. 



1. Length, 31"5; expanse, 87*5; wing, 230; tail, 10'5; 

 tarsus, 4*0 ; bill from gape, 2*9 ; bill from anterior margin of 

 cere, straight, 1*93 ; length of cere, I'l ; depth of closed bill 

 at cere, 1*3 ; width of bill at gape, 2*0 ; mid-toe, 3*6 ; its claw, 

 straight, I'O; weight, lUbs. 



Upper mandible and tip of lower greenish dusky ; base of 

 lower mandible dusky greyish horny ; cere, gape, orbital skin 

 and skin at base of lower mandible pale yellowish fleshy ; head, 

 neck, and lappets fleshy, Avith a slight tinge of greenish about 

 the throat and crop — the lappets 3"0 in length and 1'2 at 

 broadest part ; bare thigh patch fleshy ; feet reddish fleshy ; 

 claws horny black. 



2. Male. — Length, 32*5 ; expanse, 88*0; wing, 23'6 ; tail, 

 11*3 ; tarsus, 4*1 ; bill from gape, 2-9 ; bill from cere, 1"9 ; length 

 of cere, 1"05; depth of closed bill at cere, r36 ; width at gape, 

 2*15; mid-toe, 3"7 ; its claw, straight, 1'05 ; closed wings 

 short of tail, 3*5 ; weight, 91bs. 5*5ozs. 



In this specimen the long scapulars vary in color from ashy 

 grey to whitish, and have blackish brown tips. This condi- 

 tion possibly indicates a tendency to albinism. 



This species is common in the valley, and a permanent resi- 

 dent ; next to Pseudogyps bengalensis it is the Vulture most 

 abundant there. It is tolerably common in winter in the 

 Markhu Valley, the S^l forest, the Tarai and adjoining plains, 

 being the only Vulture then noticed in those parts. In the 

 valley the bird is usually seen along the banks of the rivers, 

 especially near the burning ghats, and it can always be dis- 

 tinguished from other species of Vulture by its richly-colored 

 head and feet, and by the snowy-white patch on the breast. 

 It is generally found single or in pairs, and is apparently much 

 more bold and courageous than the Vultures ; and is, for its 



