384 



entire cere and basal part of lower mandible devoid of feathers and of a livid flesh-colour when adult, 

 deep brownish-red in dried skins ; bill itself black ; nostrils small and rounded ; feet strongly reticulated. 

 Total length about 3^ feet, of bill from front 33 inches, from gape 3*8, wing about 2\ feet from carpal 

 joint, tarsus 4 inches. 



Young. General appearance more ragged and much browner in colour; the downy portions of the head 

 more scanty. 



The Cinereous Vulture inhabits the southern countries of Europe, but rarely ranging into the 

 northern or even central portions. It has never occurred in our island, but has been found as far 

 north as Denmark. In Central Russia Sabanaeff did not meet with this Vulture ; and it does not 

 appear to extend its range as high as the country he explored. It occasionally visits Poland ; 

 and there are, as we are informed by Mr. Taczanowski, two specimens in the Warsaw Museum, 

 the one killed at Kielce and the other at Rakolupy, in the Government of Lublin ; and others 

 have, during the last thirty years, been killed near Warsaw, in the Government of Lublin, and 

 near Lomze. Borggreve records an instance of its occurrence in Silesia, another in Ober-Lausitz, 

 and one in Eastern Prussia ; thus it evidently occurs very rarely in Germany. Boie mentions that 

 some years ago a small flock appeared at Fredriksstad, in Denmark, two of which were shot. 

 According to Mr. Teilmann it was procured between Fano and Sondero over fifty years ago 

 (teste Kjaerbolling). According to Degland and Gerbe it appears accidentally in Provence, 

 Languedoc, and Dauphine; a large flock passed near Angers in October 1839, and, from all 

 accounts, must have been composed of over a hundred individuals ; and Jaubert and Barthelemy- 

 Lapommeraye record it as passing regularly through the south of France, and as annually seen in 

 the department of Bouches du Rhone. In Switzerland, according to Bailly, it has occurred but 

 very rarely ; and the same is the case as regards Savoy. He refers to an old male bird procured 

 near Bonneville. 



There are, however, few parts of Europe where this species is so numerous as in Spain ; and 

 we may refer to the excellent notes on it published in ' The Ibis' by Lord Lilford and Mr. Howard 

 Saunders. The latter gentleman writes that it is " by no means rare throughout Andalucia, 

 nesting in pine trees in the forests of Segura, also near Utrera. All the eggs taken in Spain are 

 much suffused with colour, many being as strongly marked as those of Neophron percnopterus." 

 He also further writes that he observed it in Mallorca, where it is resident. Lord Lilford states 

 that it is by far the most common Vulture in the Castilles. In Portugal it is, according to the 

 Rev. A. C. Smith, " sufficiently well known to enjoy a separate specific name in Portuguese, a 

 distinction only accorded to those birds habitually met with. The title, however, which it has 

 received seems by some mischance to be usurped from another species, and to belong of right to 

 Gypaetus barbatus, at all events in the neighbouring country of Spain." 



With regard to its occurrence in Sicily, Doderlein says that Benoit's description leaves no 

 doubt as to the occurrence of this species ; but of late years it would appear to have become 

 scarce, and indeed almost unknown in that island. Salvadori records several occurrences in Italy ; 

 but its appearance there is accidental, whereas in Sardinia it is resident and the most abundant of 

 the family. 



Lindermayer writes that it is scarcely less common in Greece than the Griffon Vulture; and 



