THE VULTURE. 
21 
birds at least those of Europe, usually lay two eggs at a 
tune, and produce but once a year. They make their nests 
in inaccessible cliffs, and in places so remote that it is rare 
to find them. 
The most remarkable species of the vulture aie as follow : 
The Alpine Vulture , or percnopter. The male of which 
Linnaeus says is wholly white ; the quills black with hoary 
edges, except the two outer ones, which are entirely black. 
The female is quite brown, except the four outer quills, 
which are black. In size it exceeds the common eagle. 
They fly in troops, and are very useful in destroying mice. 
The Fuhous Vulture , or Griffon. It is about three feet 
six inches in length, and eight feet in the wings. The head, 
ueck, and ruff, are white ; the back reddish grey ; the quills 
a nd tail black ; the breast bare of feathers, and covered 
with downy hair. This is probably a variety of the golden 
vulture. 
The Golden Vulture is larger than the golden eagle, 
being four feet eight inches long. The body is black 
above, and reddish beneath; the quills and tail brown. 
The cinereous , or great vulture , is rather less than the 
last species, but larger than the common eagle. The head 
and neck are covered with brown down, and beneath the 
throat there is a kind of beard. The body is brown, and 
the legs are feathered down to the toes. It inhabits 
Europe. 
1 he hare vulture is smaller than all the preceding. It is 
o> a shining reddish black ; the breast inclining to yellow. 
It is found in many parts of Europe and Asia. When it is 
sitting or standing, it erects a crest on its head, which does 
not appear when it Hies. 
The ash-coloured, or small vulture, is the size of a large 
cock. It is generally of a sooty grey, spotted with chesnut, 
und tlie head and neck white. One which was received 
from Norway had the head and neck bare, and of a reddish 
colour, and the body almost entirely white, except the 
quills, which were black. 
Of those birds which may be accounted foreign, that 
which is called the king vulture greatly demands pre-emi- 
nence. It is the size of a hen turkey. The head and neck 
are entirely bare of feathers, but a fillet of blackish down 
encompasses the head. At the bottom of the neck, just 
above die shoulders, there is a ruff of ash-coloured feathers, 
lhe body is a reddish brown, the belly white, with a tinge 
uf yellow, and the quills are black. It is a native of South 
America and the West Indies. 
