CINEREOUS VULTURE. 9 



no well-marked difference between the specimens of this 

 bird from India and Egypt and those of Europe. 



It does not appear to be either a cowardly or a 

 stupid bird. M. Degland mentions an instance in which 

 one in confinement answered to the voice of its master, 

 and defended itself with courage against some small 

 dogs which tried to bite it. M. Bouteille also, in a 

 note to his "Ornithology of the Dauphine," relates an 

 instance of one of those birds, which in confinement 

 became so familiar as to call for its food. It however 

 once escaped into his establishment and seriously 

 wounded two men. 



It has been considered by Mr. Bennett and Mr. 

 Gould that the Cinereous Vulture deviates in structure 

 from the true Vultures, and that it might form with 

 V. auricularis and V. pondicerianus a distinct genus. 

 These three birds have the neck only partially bare, their 

 ears more open, the claws more curved, and their beak more 

 powerful. The figure in Gould is very fine and exact. 



The male and female have all the plumage dark 

 brown or blackish. Top of the head covered with a 

 tufted and woolly down; part of the head and neck 

 naked, and of a livid bluish colour; feathers long and 

 curved, re-ascending obliquely from the inferior part of 

 the side of the neck towards the nape; other feathers 

 loose and light, covering the insertion of the wings. 

 Cere and sides of the posterior half of the beak flesh- 

 coloured, with a violet tinge; tip of the beak and 

 claws black; iris brown. Feet covered with feathers 

 above, the remainder naked and bluish, like the naked 

 part of the head and neck, but of a clearer tint. 



Young bird, brown, inclining to fawn-coloured; cen- 

 tre of the feathers darker, the head and neck covered 

 with a bluish grey down. — (Degland.) 



