AVES. 287 



2. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). 



Rachamah of Bruce, Travels, vol. v. p. 163, with plate. 

 EUpp. Syst. Uebers. No. 2. — Lefebvre, p. 46. — Brehm, Habesch, 

 2.— Heugl. Omith. N. 0. Africa's, No. 7. 



Habits and appearance precisely like those of the 

 Indian variety. Common everywliere from the sea- 

 level up to 10,000 feet, and equally abundant near 

 the camps on the Wadela plateau and on the shores of 

 Annesley Bay. 



3. N. pileatus (Burchell). 



Vultur pileatus, Burch. Trav. S. Afr. ii. 195.' 



CathaHes monachus, Temm. PI. col. 222. 



Neophron pileatus, Eiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 3. — Lefebvre, p. 46. — 



Brehm, Habesch, No. 1.— Heugl. Omith. N. O. Afr. No. 8. 

 N. monachus. Ferret et Gall. No. 2, p. 178. 



This is a bird of very different habits from H. per- 

 cnopterus, and far more vulturine both in its flight and 

 food. Numbers usually collect around a carcase, which 

 is very rarely, if ever, the case with N". percnopterus. 

 The difference is best shown in the fact that both Euro- 

 peans and Eastern people frequently speak of N. percnop- 

 terus as a Kite, whilst no one could ever consider 

 N, pileatus as anything else than a Vulture. I greatly 

 doubt the propriety of ranking both in one genus. 



N. pileatus was the only Vulture common about the 

 eamp at Malkatto, on the shores of Annesley Bay. It 

 abounded on the Anseba, and occurred, but less abun- 

 dantly, on the highlands. 



1 As aU naturalists identify this species with Burchell's description, I 

 suppose there can be no question of its identity ; yet Burchell expressly 

 states that his species was equal in size to the largest African vultures, 

 and, in the description, adds, " Species inter majores." 



