NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS. 



shores of the Bristol Channel in October 1825. It is now in the posses- 

 sion of the Rev. A. Matthew of Kilve in Somersetshire, who has kindly 

 favoured us with the loan of the specimen, accompanied with particulars 

 relating to its appearance and capture. When first discovered, it was feed- 

 ing upon the carcase of a dead sheep, and had so gorged itself with the car- 

 rion as to be unable or unwilling to fly to any great distance at a time : it 

 was therefore approached without much difficulty and shot. Another bird 

 apparently of this species was seen at the same time upon wing at no great 

 distance, which remained in the neighbourhood a few days, but could never 

 be approached within gunshot : this was supposed to be the mate of the 

 one killed. It measured two feet seven inches in length, and in extent of 

 wing five feet nine inches. Its bill, from the forehead to the tip, is two 

 inches and a half long, the tarsus three inches, and the middle toe with 

 its claw the same. The bill is brownish-black or horn coloured. The 

 cere, which is somewhat bulging at the base, and occupies half the length 

 of the biU, wine-yellow. Nostrils situated on the middle of the cere, 

 large and open. Crown of head, cheeks and throat, covered with a naked 

 skin, of a livid flesh-coloured red, with a few straggling bristly feathers 

 between the bill and eyes, and upon the margins of the mandibles. Ears 

 round, open and large. Occiput and nape covered with a close, thick set 

 white down, with small black feathers intermixed. Neck clothed with 

 long arched and acuminated feathers, forming a kind of ruff of a deep 

 umber-brown, tipped with cream-yellow. Back and scapulars cream- white, 

 the latter intermixed and varied with umber-brown. Lesser wing-co- 

 verts nearest the body deep umber-brown, margined with a paler shade : 

 these are succeeded by two rows of cream-coloured sharp-pointed fea- 

 thers. Greater coverts umber-brown, varied with cream-white. Secon- 

 daries pale umber-brown, their tips and margins yellowish-white. Quills 

 black. Tail cuneiform, umber-brown at the base, the tip yellowish-white. 

 Under parts mixed with umber-brown. Legs strong and fleshy, of a pale 

 yellowish-grey. The tarsi covered with a rough reticulated skin : the 

 middle toe with four entire scales upon the last phalange ; the exterior 

 and interior each with three ; hinder toe short and strong. Claws black- 

 ish-brown, strong, but not greatly arched. Its sex unfortunately was not 

 ascertained. 



From the above description, it would appear that this individual had 

 not acquired its mature plumage, which, in the perfect adult, is of an uni- 

 form white, except the greater quills, which are black, and in which state 

 it is recognized as the Vultur Ginginianus of Latham, and other authors. 



