CLASS n. AVES. 



Vertebrated, oviparous, red and warm-blooded feathered bipeds with 

 their pectoral or anterior limbs organised for flight. Lungs fixed and 

 perforated. Eespiration and circulation double. 



ORDER, EAPTORES,— BIRDS OF PREY. 



AcciPiTEBS, Linn. 



Bill short, strong, stout, covered at the base with a cere or naked skin, 

 and strongly curved, the tip perpendicular; nostrils open. Legs and 

 feet muscular, armed with curved, sharp, elongated talons capable of 

 being bent under the feet. Toes four, three in front and one behind; 

 upper mandible longer than the lower one ; the edges with one, and 

 sometimes two, sharp or blunt festoons. 



Family, VULTURID^,— Vultures. 



Upper mandible not toothed, sometimes sinuate ; head and neck 

 more or less bare, or clothed only with short down. No true feathers 

 on crown of head. 



Sub-Family, VULTURIN^,— Vultures Peopek. 

 Nostrils not perforated. First quill short; third and fourth sub- 

 equal, fourth longest. Tarsus reticulated. 



Gen. Vultur — Linn. 



Bill higher than broad; cere large ; nostrils rounded, naked. 



Vultur monachus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 122; Jerd. B. of hid. vol. i, 

 p. 6; Hume, St7: F., vol. vii. p. 321 ; Muiray, Hdblc, Zool., &c., 

 Siiid. — The Crested or Great Brown Vulture. 



Adult. — Colour rich dark chocolate-brown throughout, including the 

 crop patch, darker on the wings, tail and under parts. Feathers of the 

 nape lengthened, lanceolate, and forming a ruff. Lores, cheeks, and 

 throat downy, also a patch on the occiput ; rest of head and neck both 

 behind and laterally is bare, of a livid flesh colour in life. Bill black ; 

 feet yellowish ; iris dark brown. 



Length. — 42 to 45 inches, expanse 96 to 118, wing 29"5 to 32, 

 culmen 33, tarsus 4*25. 



Eab. — A native of Europe. Found on the lofty mountains of Italy, 

 the Tyrol, and also in Africa. In India it affects the hilly ranges of 

 Central India, Guzerat, and Sindj occurring in the latter only in the 

 winter months. 



Gen. Otogyps. — Gray. 



Tarsus longer than middle toe ; head and neck bare, with fleshy folds 

 and a neck-lappet or wattle of skin. 



Otogyps calvus, 0. B. Gray, Gen. B. i, p. 4 ; Jerd. B. of Ind. 

 vol. i, p. 7 ; Hume, Sir. F., vol. viii., p. 370 ; Sharpe, Oat. Ace. Br. Mus., 

 p. 14 ; Murray, HdbJc, Zool., SfC, Sind. Vultur calvus. Scop. Del. Faun, et 

 Flor. Insubr., vol. ii., p. 85. V. pondicerianus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i, p. 7 ; 

 Ban-Gidh, Bhaonra, Hind, j Wudda Qidh, Sind. — The Black Vulture. 



