XXVlll 
INTRODUCTION. 
ORDER RAPTORES. 
Family VULTURIDiE. 
Genus Neophron. 
1. Neophron percnopterus ........... Vol. I. PI. I. 
Egyptian Vulture. 
We have very positive evidence that this bird has been killed in Somersetshire and Essex, of which 
occurrences the particulars will be found in my account of the species. 
Genus Gyps. 
2. Gyps fulvus. 
Griffon Vulture. 
This bird has still less claim to a place in the British Fauna than the Egyptian Vulture ; I have there- 
fore not given a plate of it, notwithstanding that its occurrence has been recorded by Thompson, and 
that Yarrell has figured it from a specimen “ caught by a youth on the rocks near Cork harbour in the 
spring of 1843. The bird was full-grown ; the plumage perfect, without any of the ajipearances conse- 
quent on confinement ; it was very wild and savage, and was in perfect health.” 
This Vulture is of large size and proportionate strength, possesses great sustaining powers of flight, 
and enjoys a widely extended geographical range, being found in Germany, France, on the Pyrenees, in 
Spain. It also occurs In the Grecian archipelago, Candia, Egypt, and other parts of North Africa; and 
Dr. Jerdon states that it also inhabits Western Asia and the Himalaya Mountains. It makes a large 
nest, 3 or 4 feet in diameter, on rocks and high trees, and lays two, or sometimes three, elongated 
white eggs nearly as large as those of a Goose. 
Family FALCONIDiE. 
Subfamily AQUILIN.E. 
Eagles are very generally spread over the temperate and warmer portions of the globe. Four species 
frequent the British Islands — namely, two of the genus Aqiiila, one of HaUa'etm, and a Pandion. 
