CATALOGUE. 
7 
Neophron percnopterus, Sav.^ Desc. de VEgyjp. H. N. 
l.p. 16. Syhes, P. Z. S. (1832), p. 78. G. B. Gray^ 
Gen. of Birds, I. p. 3 ; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. p. 7. 
Hodgs., Cat. B. Nep. p. 37. Blytli, Cat. B. Mus. 
A. S. Beng.p. 33. Bonap., C. G. Av. p. 11. 
Vultur ginginianus, Baud., Tr. d'Orn. TL. p. 20. Lath., 
Hist. I. p. 17. 
Alpine Vulture, Lath. 
Eachamah, Bruce' s Travels, App. p. 262, t. 33. 
HocHJEME, Arabians, Hasselquisf s Travels. 
SooNGEA or SooNDA, Scinde, Burnes. 
Ktjl-moorgh, Hind., Jerd. 
A. Dukhnn. Presented by Col. Sykes. 
B. c. Abyssinia. From Sir W. Harris's Collection. 
d. Knmaon. From Captain R. Strachey's Collection. 
Colonel Sykes informs us " tbat these birds are always found in 
cantonments and camps. For the most part of the day they con- 
tinue on the wing, soaring in circles. When on the ground, they 
walk with a peculiar gait, lifting their legs very high. They are 
eflScient scavengers. The proportional length of the intestine to the 
body in these birds is 5*20 to 1."— (P. Z. S., 1832, p. 78.) Eruce 
says, " The Eachamah has no voice that ever I heard ; generally sits 
single, and oftener sits and walks upon the ground than upon trees. 
It delights in the most putrid and stinking kind of carrion, and has 
itself a very strong smell, and putrefies very speedily. It is a very 
great breach of order or police to kill any one of these birds near 
Cairo. It lays but two eggs, and builds its nest in the most desert 
part of the country." — (Travels, App. p. 266.) 
" These birds light in great flocks on the lay-stalls near the city of 
Cairo, and there promiscuously feed, with the dogs and other beasts, 
on dead carcases and other offal. They assemble with the kites 
every morning and evening, in the square called Eohneli (which is 
the place for executing capital ofienders), there to receive the alms 
of fresh meat, left them by the legacies of wealthy great men. The 
appearance of the bird is as horrid as can well be imagined, viz. : 
the face is naked and wrinkled, the eyes are large and black, the 
beak black and hooked, the talons large, and extended ready for 
prey, and the whole body polluted with filth: these are qualities 
enough to make the beholder shudder with horror. Notwithstand- 
ing this, the inhabitants of Egypt cannot be thankful enough to 
