42 
Mr. E. C. Taylors Ornithological 
identity. It will be seen from the list, that, although many of 
the species obtained by us are not as yet known to visit any part 
of Europe, still, with two exceptions, they belong to genera which 
have some representative in European ornithology. I found 
Egypt a country very rich in birds, especially abounding in 
Raptores and Grallatores. It seems to be a favourite winter 
residence for many of the migratory birds, especially the larger 
GrallatoreSj which at other seasons visit various parts of Europe. 
It is, however, perfectly obvious, that, confining the term of ©ur 
visit, as we did, to three months, and the area of our investi¬ 
gations to the immediate vicinity of the Nile, we can have seen 
but a very small proportion of the species which visit the country 
during the course of the year. 
BAPTOKES. 
1. Gyps fulvus. Griffon Vulture. 
This species I observed generally distributed throughout the 
country, but nowhere very abundant. It seemed to avoid the 
towns, and was rather shy and wary. 
2. Neophron percnopterus. Egyptian Vulture. 
Very abundant all through the country, especially frequenting 
the towns and villages. When wounded it made no attempt to 
defend itself with its beak or claws, but contented itself with 
vomiting the contents of its stomach,—a bad habit, to which, as 
far as my experience goes, the preceding species is not addicted. 
I find the Egyptian Vulture almost universally figured and 
described as having yellow legs and feet, and by Mr. Gould in 
his f Birds of Europe 9 it is figured with yellow legs and hazel 
irides. Now I beg to observe, that, in the very numerous speci¬ 
mens which came under my notice, recently killed, and in every 
stage of transition from brown to the pure white of the adult 
plumage, the legs and feet were invariably pale flesh-colour, 
very slightly tinged with brown in the immature birds, but 
always without the least tint of yellow. The irides are deep red, 
3. Aquila imperialis. Imperial Eagle. 
Gould’s Birds of Europe , vol. i. pi. 5. 
This magnificent bird seems rare in Egypt. We only pro- 
