NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS. 
Eg-yptian Vuiture. 
Vultur percnoptenis, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 123. 
stercorarius, Lapeyi’. Neue Scliwed. AbhandL, tom. iii. p. 100. 
leucocephalus, Briss. Orn., tom. i. p. 466. 
fuscus, Bodd. Tab. PI. Enl., p. 28. 
albiis. Hand. Traite d’Orn., tom. ii. p. 20. 
albicans, Meissner. 
Cathartes percnopterus, Temm. Man. d’Orn., 1815, p. 5. 
Percnopterus agyptiacus, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. ZooL, vol. xiii. p. 7. 
Neophron percnopterus, Savig. Descr. de I’Egypte, Hist. Nat., p. 16. 
As might be supposed, the British Islands are not a favourite place of resort for any of the Vultures, 
their peculiar habits and mode of life being more especially adapted for the southern countries of Europe, 
Asia, and Africa ; but that the present species has undoubted claims to a place in the avifauna of Great 
Britain cannot be questioned, inasmuch as, according to Selby and Yarrell, a specimen was shot near Kilve, 
in Somersetshire, in October, 1825, which “ when first discovered was feeding upon the carcass of a dead 
sheep, and had so gorged itself with the carrion as to be unable or unwilling to fly to any great distance at 
a time, and was therefore approached and shot without much difficulty. Another bird, similar to it in 
appearance, was seen at the same time upon the wing at no great distance ; it remained in the neighbourhood 
a few days, and was supposed to be the mate of the one killed. The state and colour of the plumage of 
this individual, judging from the description of M. Temminck and others, indicate a young bird, probably 
of the first or, at the furthest, of the second year.” 
Much more recently, namely in 1868, the acqnisition of a second example is thus recorded by Dr. Bree 
in the'* Zoologist ’ for that year. 
“ On the 28th of September last the labourer who had charge of an off-hand farm of Mr. Woodward, 
of Stanway Hall, situated at Peldon, in Essex, had been killing his Michaelmas geese : on going some time 
after into the yard he saw a strange bird feeding upon the blood. The bird flew away, and the man loaded 
his gun. Presently it came again and hovered over the spot in hopes of another spell at the blood; hut 
his fate was sealed, and he fell dead to the labourer’s shot. I saw the bird next day at the house of Mr. 
Ambrose, to whom it had been sent for preservation. As far as I know, this is only the second instance of 
the capture of Fultur percnopterus in Great Britain. It is quite possible that it has more frequently visited 
our shores, though not captured ; for Mr. Laver, of Colchester, informs me that many years ago his father, 
who lived near Burnham, further up the Essex coast than Peldon, had a flock of Vultures for several days 
among the large trees on his farm. They were known by their bare heads, and were most probably the 
Egyptian. At all events this bird must now, I think, be ranked without doubt among the strangers which 
occasionally visit our shores. The specimen now shot was in immature plumage.” 
Respecting’ the two British-killed examples above mentioned, Mr J. H. Gurney, jun., has favoured me 
with the following note : — “ Mr. Yarrell was in error when he stated that the first-mentioned specimen was 
in the possession of the Rev. A. Mathew. Such is not the case ; it belongs to the Rev. Mr. Mathew, of 
Chalvey, who informs me that it was obtained on the cliffs bordering the British Channel, about half a mile 
from Kilve.” Through the intercession of my friend Dr. Bree, Mr. Woodward was so obliging as to send 
his bird to London for my inspection. It was from this specimen that the reduced figure in my Plate was 
taken ; and I would here tender my acknowledgments to both gentlemen for an act of courtesy whereby 
the interest of my delineation of the species has been much enhanced. 
The nearest countries to our own where this bird is common are Southern France and Spain : there it is 
tolerably abundant, as it also is in all the more eastern parts of Europe ; but it is in Turkey and Egypt, and 
particularly in the Nile district, that it is more nnmerons than elsewhere. 
Not having had opportunities of observing this bird in a state of nature, I must now avail myself of 
observations of those who have written respecting it. 
The Egyptian Vultui’e, says Yarrell, “ does not live in flocks like other Vultures, although, when 
attracted by a carcass, eight or ten may be seen assembled. At other times it is rare to see more than two 
together. The male and female seldom separate. In the districts which it inhabits, every group of the 
natives has a pair of these Vultures attached to it. The birds roost on the trees in the vicinity, or on the 
