RELATIVE VIAB[LITV IX MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 505 



VULTURID.E (cout.). No. of 



Indiv. 



Gypohierax angolensis (Angolan 12 



Yultui-e). 



Gypaetus 6«r6«i5 us (European IJeaideil 6 113 284 



Vulture). 



Sbrpentariid^. 



Serpentarius reptilivorus (Secretarj^ 26 12 59 



Vulture)'. 

 Cathartid.e. 



Cathartes, whole genn.s 23 



C. atratus (Black Vulture) 15 



C. aura (Turkey ,, ) 7 



C. uruhitinga (Yellow-headed Vultui-e) . 1 



Sarcorhaif)iphus cequatoi'ialis (Bi-own 1 



Condor). 



S. gryphus (Condor) 6 



Gypagus papa (King Vidture) . . .' 18 



Summary of Accipitres. 



The potential longevity of Accipitrine birds is well known to be 

 great, although, as in most other cases, well-authenticated records 

 are considerably lower than the ages assigned by popular rumour. 

 Metchnikoff {op. cit. p. 53) refers to a White-headed or Egyptian 

 Vulture of 118 years, and a Golden Eagle of 104. Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney's exact records (loc. cit. p. 37) range downwards from a 

 Bateleur Eagle of 55 years and a Condor of 52. The maximum 

 durations in my record are considerably lower ; those over 20 years 

 are a Caracara of over 41, a Condor of nearly 34, a Chilian Sea- 

 Eagle of nearly 28, a Sociable and an Angolan Vulture which 

 reached nearly 24, a Griffon of nearly 22 and a Wedge-tailed 

 Eagle of more than 21 years ; whilst there is at present alive, a 

 Milvago that has been over 24 years in the Gardens. The 

 average durations mostly under 2 years are of Ospreys, Harriers, 

 Hawks, Falcons, Kestrels, Secretary Bird, and the American 

 Vultures ; those mostly between 2 and 4 yeai's, are of Buzzards, 

 Sea-Eagles, and the larger Hawk-Eagles ; those mostly between 

 4 and 6 years are of the Chilian Sea-Eagles, Goshawks, and Kites ; 

 whilst the records above 6 years belong chiefly to Wedge-tailed 

 Eagles, Imperial Eagles, the larger Vultures and the Condor. 

 There is a rough relation between size and viability, and there is 

 the usual very low viability of the common European forms. 

 The conditions under which the birds of prey have been kept, 

 in the period covered, cannot be said to have led to a favourable 

 result. In the great majority of cases no artificial heat was 

 provided, even in winter, and there was full access to open air, 

 but especially in the case of the smaller birds, the quarters were 

 small and dark, and there was no provision for exei'cise. If the 

 records be compared with those of the Striges, it will be seen, 



