Neophron. RAPTORES. NEOPHRON. 5 



Since the publication of the first volume of the " lUustra- 

 tions," a bird of this species has been killed upon the western 

 coast of England, in an undoubted wild and natural state, 

 thus entitling it to a place in the list of our fauna, as a rare Rare visi- 

 visitant. The specimen is now in the possession of the Rev. ^*"^" 

 A. Matthew of Kilve, in Somersetshire, near which place 

 it was shot in October 1825, and who kindly favoured me 

 with the loan of the specimen, accompanied by the following 

 particulars relating to its capture. When first discovered, 

 it was feeding upon the carcass of a dead sheep, and had so 

 gorged itself with the carrion, as to be unable or unwilling 

 to fly to any great distance at a time, and was therefore ap- 

 proached without much difficulty and shot. Another bird 

 similar to it in appearance, was seen at the same time upon 

 wing at no great distance ; which remained in the neigh- 

 bourhood a few days, but could never be approached within 

 range ; and which was supposed to be the mate of the one 

 killed. The state and colour of the plumage of this indivi- 

 dual, judging from the descriptions given of the species by 

 Temminck and other authors, indicate a young bird probably 

 of the first, or, at the farthest, of the second year. The livery 

 of the adult {Vultur gingianus of Latham) being of an uni- 

 form white, with the exception of the greater quills, which 

 always remain black. The changes of plumage to which it 

 is subject, and the different appearance it assumes under 

 each, have given rise to the creation of several supposed dis- 

 tinct species, as is evident from the list of synonyms quoted ; 

 but I am convinced that most of them may be satisfactorily 

 traced to the bird in question, excepting only the Angola 

 Vulture of Pennant {Vultur A7igolensis of J^atu am,) which 

 (from his description, and the figure given in his " Tour 

 through Wales") is difficult to be reconciled with any state 

 of Neophron Percnopterus. In Europe, the species is not 

 uncommon in Spain, Malta, and Turkey, and it is some- 

 times also met with in Italy, and as far as Switzerland. 



