262 Mr. D. A. Bannermau on an Ornithological 



Neophron percnopterus. Egyptian Vulture. 



Neophron percnopterus (Linn.) ; Bannerman, Part I. pp. 44^ 

 50, 56, 58, 61, m, 78, 87, 89. 



The Egyptian Vulture is not nearly so plentiful in the 

 eastern group o£ the Canary Islands as it is in Gran 

 Canaria or Teuerife. In Fuerteventura and Lanzarote it 

 was sparingly distributed throughout both islands — by 

 "^ sparingly ^' I mean that it would be unusual to see more 

 than two or three pairs in a day's march, while in Gran 

 Canaria it is seldom indeed that two or more birds are 

 not constantly in sight wherever one may happen to 

 travel. 



In Graciosa a single bird used to haunt the largest crater. 

 I do not believe that any breed there, the precipitous cliffs 

 known as "El Risco," on the adjoining island of Lanzarote, 

 proving far more attractive to their requirements. 



In Montana Clara a pair certainly appeared to be resident, 

 on which island the birds had plenty of opportunities of 

 choosing a suitable nesting-site where they would be un- 

 disturbed. 



The island of Allegranza also possessed a single pair of 

 these Vultures at the time of our visit. 



An immature bird was obtained in Fuerteventura. 



Bill pale horn-colour ; iris dark hazel ; feet dirty flesh- 

 colour ; head and neck pale chrome. 



Fandion haliaetus haliaetiis. Osprey. 



Pandion h. haliaetus (Linn.); Bannerman, Part I. pp. 61, 

 66, 78, 82, 86. 



The Osprey is often seen round the coasts of all the 

 eastern islands. It breeds in all the members of this group 

 with the possible exception of Graciosa, where, however, it 

 has been known to nest, although there are no high cliffs in 

 this island. A pair was resident on Montaiia Clara, and 

 we watched their marvellous evolutions every day. This 

 pair is said to nest on the north-west cliffs of the island 

 (vide Part I. Plate III. fig. 2). 



When I landed on the West Eock two Ospreys sailed out 



