Ve) bod a, 
nine feet. Ina_ftate of reft, efpecially after a full meal, it draws its 
head into the ruff, with the bill refting on the crop, in which ftate it 
appears a fhapelefs mafs of feathers. It was alfo obferved, that this 
_bird never folded its wings on the tail, but always fuffered them to 
hang down carelefsly on each fide. Mr. Levaillant fays, that this bird 
comes from China; however, we have little doubt of its proving no 
other than the Vultur Monachus of Linneus, our Arabian Vulture*, ex-) 
ceedingly well expreffed in Edw. pl. 290; alfo fufficiently characte- 
rized in Gerini, under the name of Vultur Leporarius +. 
M. de la Peiroufet obferves, that it is found in the fame places 
with his Arrzan, which I take to be the Civereous Vulture; but is 
more fcarce: the colours of the plumage are not far different, being 
brown for the moft part, but the neck lefs naked: and it differs like- 
wife in the head being elevated on the top: the cere and feet incline 
-to red. 
~  Voultur ferpentarius, Ind. Orz. i. p. 8. N° 21. 
Le Mangeur de Serpens, Lewaill. Oi/. i. p. 103. pl. 25. 
Meffager reptilivore, Dazdin. Orn. ii. p. 30.1. 
Secretair, Buf. Of vil. p. 328. t. 17. 
Ibis, Gent. Mag. xxxix. t. p. 568. 
Snake-eater, Phil. Tranf. v. Ixi. p. 55. t. 2. 
Secretary Vulture, Gez. Syn. i. p. 20. pl. 2.—=Id. Sup. p. 4 
EVAILLANT obferves, that the creft feathers are ten in number, 
the loweft the longeft ; the fhorteft four inches only, and that this 
bird not only preys on fnakes, &c. but all oviparous quadrupeds : its 
claws, on account of its being oftener on the ground than other birds of 
prey, become lefs fharp than is commonly feen, and will not ferve to 
* Syn. i. p. 8. N° 4. + Vol. i. pl. ix. 
TN. Schw. Abh. B. 3. S. 100.—Another is alfo mentioned, called Der Mifgeyer, 
which is whitifh: head with the knob and cere faffron-colour: legs blueifh and naked, 
known by the name of A/mock. 
Supp. II. Cc grafp 
PLACK 
Q: 
SECRETARY 
V. 
Descrirrion. 
