Indian Birds 
Vulture. (F. 1194), (J. 4), (+V, over a yard 
in length.) 
Uniform brownish grey; the hue varying 
with individuals. 
Not found in Sind. 
143. Pseudogyps bengalensis: ‘The Indian 
White-backed Vulture. (F. 1196), (J. 5), 
(+V. Between 141 and 142 in size.) 
This is the commonest vulture in India. It 
is very dark grey, almost black. The naked 
head is rather lighter than the rest of the body. 
The lower back is white, and this makes the 
bird easy to identify. It has some white in 
the wings, and this during flight is visible as a 
broad white band that runs from the body 
nearly to the tip of the wing. Thus the wing 
from below appears to be white with very 
broad black edges. (Illus. B. B., p. 9.) 
144. Neophron ginginianus: ‘The Smaller 
White Scavenger Vulture. (F. 1197), (J. 6), (V-) 
This familiar creature I have named “ ‘The 
ugliest bird in the world.” I reproduce the 
description of the bird from Bombay Ducks : 
“There is no other creature like unto it. It 
is about the size of a kite. Its plumage is 
dirty white, except the tips of the wings, 
which are shabby black. The neck is covered 
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