NOTES ON NEOPHRON PUENOPTERUS (SAVIGNY.) 53 



This bird has a wide geographical range, and is common 

 throughout the north of Africa, the west of Asia, and even 

 the south of Europe. It is an exceedingly foul feeder, and 

 is preserved in Egypt as a valuable scavenger, and where 

 it is known as 11 Pharaoh's Chicken" Terdon says it waits 

 and runs with facility, and breeds on rocky cliffs, large 

 buildings, mosques, &c. It forms a nest of sticks and rub- 

 bish, often lined with rags. It lays generally two eggs — 

 sometimes white, with a few rusty brown spots — at other 

 times so thickly covered with these as to appear quite red, 

 with a few liver brown blotches. 



Kandy, 26th September, 1874. 



