3o6 



AVES-ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES 



Cathartidiformes {antea, p. 304). Although so different from their American 

 allies, the habits of the Old World Vultures are very similar. They have a 

 bare head and neck, scantily clothed with down or plumes ; but these parts 

 are never fully clothed with feathers as in the true Birds of Prey. 



The genera of the VultHridce are six in number, viz., the Black Vultures 

 (Vultnr), the Griffons {Gyps and Fseudogyps), the Bared Vultures (Otogyps), 

 the White-headed Vultures (Lophogyps), and the Scavenger Vultures 

 (Neophron). 



The Black Vulture u the only representative of the genus Vultur. It ia 

 found in the Mediterranean countries, whence it ranges through Central 

 Asia to the Himalayas, and even to China. It 

 is a large bird, nearly 4 ft. in length, and is 

 entirely black or dark brown, with a pad of 

 thick, velvety down on the crown and a ruff of 

 brown down on the neck. It is more solitary 

 in its habits than the Griffons ; and in Spain, 

 according to Colonel Irby, the species breeds in 

 trees, and not in colonies, laying only one egg 

 about the beginning of April. It acts the part 

 of a King Vulture towards the Griffons, and 

 drives the latter away from any carcase which 

 they may be feeding upon. 



Pour, or perhaps five, species of Griffons are 

 known, the most familiar being the Gyps fulvus 

 of Southern Europe. Colonel 

 Irby gives an interesting 

 account of the species in 

 Spain. It is very plentiful 

 near Gibraltar, and nests in 

 colonies, nob exceeding thirty-five pairs, in 

 holes, or rather in caves in the perpendicular 

 crags or "lajas" which are found in many of 

 the Sierras. The eggs, according to Captain 

 Willoughby Verner, are white when fresh laid, but soon become stained and 

 often covered with mud and blood. He says: — "Anyone who has seen a 

 party of Griffons on damp soil, churning up the ground with their feet 

 around a carcase, can easily understand the eggs becoming soiled." Colonel 

 Irby observes : — "How the numbers which inhabit Audalucia get sufficient 

 to eat is a puzzle to me. They must be able to fast for some days, or else 

 travel immense distances for their food, as in the winter and spring it la 

 unusual to see dead animals about; but in the hot parching months vast 

 quantities of cattle die of thirst and want of pasture. A bull fight is a sort 

 of harvest to Vultures, which flock in great numbers- to revel on the carcases 

 of the unfortunate horses that have been so cruelly killed." 



Of the Scavenger Vultures there are four species, the best-known being the 

 Egyptian Vulture {Neophron perniopteriis). The members of this genus are 

 smaller than the generality of Vultures, and have a long 

 curved bill with a longitudinal nostril. The Egyptian 

 Vulture is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean countries 

 and Africa. In India it is replaced by a nearly allied 

 form with a yellow bill, known as N. ginginianus. In 

 Africa two brown species, N. pileatus and N. monachii^, occur. 



The Griffon 



Vultures.— Genus 



Gi/ps. 



Fig. 61. — The Black A'clture 

 ( Vultur Tnonachus). 



The Scavenger 



Vultures,— 

 Genus Neophron. 



