112 Nest of the Bengal Vulture. [Feb. 



than those of Cutia : for, in the former, the anteal digits are freer, 

 and the lateral ones shorter in proportion to the central and to the 

 hind one, than in the latter ; whilst the nails have rather less than 

 more of the Parian attributes. Lastly, the pointed and burnished 

 feathers on the head of Lamprotornis Spilopterus are wholly wanting 

 in oar bird. In Spilopterus they seem to intimate relationship with 

 the Stares. Nor is the intimation unrequired by those who claim 

 such fellowship for this bird, in as much as its habits and essential 

 structure savour more contrast than similitude with the Slurnidte. 



As for our Cutia, amidst all its anomalies (so to speak, with refer- 

 ence to one's own ignorance) of structure, there is certainly some- 

 thing Sturnine in its aspect ; and by certain peculiarities of its feet 

 and wings, as well as by its variegated plumage, it bears some resem- 

 blance to Sturnella, a genus " leading directly to the true Starlings." 



Species new. C. Nipalensis, nobis; Nipalese Cutia, nobis. Habitat, 

 central and northern regions; adheres to the forests, feeding on hard 

 insects and on seeds. Gregarious and arboreal. 



Color and size. Male, above, brilliant rusty yellow, with jet-black 

 remiges and rectrices. Cap, and a large apert central portion of the 

 wings slaty ; the former confined all round, by a black band pro- 

 ceeding through the eyes from the nares. Below, from chin to legs, 

 pure white ; from legs inclusively to tail-coverts, flavescent : the 

 flanks broadly cross-barred with black : a spot of the same hue at the 

 base of the maxilla : most at the alar quills and the lateral tail fea- 

 thers, tipped with white : lining of wings, and wings internally and 

 basallv, albescent : bill, above blackish, below plumbeous : legs orange 

 yellow : iris, brown : 7 to 1\ inches long by 10g to 11 wide: bill \\ : 

 tarsus I xt '• central toe \\, hind t %. The female is a trifle less in 

 size. Her mantle is variegated by longitudinal black drops : and her 

 cheek band is brown instead of black, especially on the ears. 



VII. — Nest of the Bengal Vulture, (Vultur Bengalensis ;) with obser- 

 servations on the power of scent ascribed to the Vulture tribe. By 

 Lieutenant J. Hutton. 



On the 8th December, 1833, I found four vultures' nests in a large 

 barkat tree, near the village of Futtehgurh, on the road from Nee- 

 much to Mhow. These nests were of great thickness, and were con- 

 structed of small branches and twigs, mixed with dead leaves ; three 

 of them contained each one egg, of a large size, and quite white. The 

 fourth nest was occupied by a solitary young one, just hatched, and 



