20 BEARDED VULTURE. 
and abdomen. After the first moult the colour of the 
feathers becomes lighter, the under part of the body 
redder, and there are spots of the same colour on the 
mantle. The red becomes brighter after and paler 
before each moult, and sometimes more or less white 
when it assumes its adult plumage. It only arrives at 
its perfect plumage at six years old, at least m captivity. 
It is born covered with brown down from head to foot. 
The figure of the egg of this bird is from a drawing 
of a specimen in the British Museum. We beg to 
thank Dr. Gray for the facilities he has afforded us in 
obtaining drawings of those specimens of birds and eggs 
which we required. 
I have much pleasure im acknowledging the receipt 
of a long letter from Professor Moquin-Tandon, of 
the Faculté de Médecine de Paris, in which that dis- 
tinguished naturalist has in the kindest terms offered 
to assist me in the prosecution of this work. I beg 
to assure M. Moquin-Tandon that I highly appreciate 
the value of this offer—and for the genuine spirit of 
philosophical liberality with which he responded to my 
request. 
