1. Vultur monachus, Lin.
Blyth, Cat. 131 - Horsf., Cat. 1 - V. cinereus, Gmel. - V. arrianus, Tem. - AEgypius niger, Sav. - PI. enl. 425 - Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 2 - Gray and Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. I., pl. 15, f. 2 - P. cupido, Hodgson - 'Great Black Vulture' of the Himalayas.
Great Brown Vulture.
Descr. - Of a rich dark chocolate brown color throughout, blacker on the wings, tail, and under parts; the feathers of the nape length- ened, and somewhat lanceolate, forming a dense ruff; lores, cheeks, and throat covered with dark brown hair-like feathers ; top of the head covered with soft downy feathers, ending in a sort of occipital ruff of a light brown colour ; hind neck below the ears nude. In a younger bird the head is more denuded, and the clothing feathers of the back are of a loose texture, lengthened and lanceolate; and the feathers are edged and tipped lighter. Bill with the cere red mixed with ashy, dusky black at the tip; the naked part of neck also ashy red, irides brown, legs dusky yellow.
Length 44 to 48 inches; wing 33; tail 14; bill straight to gape 4; height not quite 2; tarsus 4 1/2; mid toe and claw 5. This fine Vulture is found, though rarely in the Himalayas, occa- sionally descending to the plains. I saw it at Saugor in Central India, and also at Mhow. It is found in the lofty hill ranges of Southern Europe and N. Africa.
V. occipitalis, Burchell (galericulatus, Tern., PI. col. 13 - Rupp. Atl., pl. 22), from Africa, is another species of True Vulture.
Blyth, Cat. 131 - Horsf., Cat. 1 - V. cinereus, Gmel. - V. arrianus, Tem. - AEgypius niger, Sav. - PI. enl. 425 - Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 2 - Gray and Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. I., pl. 15, f. 2 - P. cupido, Hodgson - 'Great Black Vulture' of the Himalayas.
Great Brown Vulture.
Descr. - Of a rich dark chocolate brown color throughout, blacker on the wings, tail, and under parts; the feathers of the nape length- ened, and somewhat lanceolate, forming a dense ruff; lores, cheeks, and throat covered with dark brown hair-like feathers ; top of the head covered with soft downy feathers, ending in a sort of occipital ruff of a light brown colour ; hind neck below the ears nude. In a younger bird the head is more denuded, and the clothing feathers of the back are of a loose texture, lengthened and lanceolate; and the feathers are edged and tipped lighter. Bill with the cere red mixed with ashy, dusky black at the tip; the naked part of neck also ashy red, irides brown, legs dusky yellow.
Length 44 to 48 inches; wing 33; tail 14; bill straight to gape 4; height not quite 2; tarsus 4 1/2; mid toe and claw 5. This fine Vulture is found, though rarely in the Himalayas, occa- sionally descending to the plains. I saw it at Saugor in Central India, and also at Mhow. It is found in the lofty hill ranges of Southern Europe and N. Africa.
V. occipitalis, Burchell (galericulatus, Tern., PI. col. 13 - Rupp. Atl., pl. 22), from Africa, is another species of True Vulture.
