File:The royal natural history (1893) (14598220158).jpg

Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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aiiricularis), whichranges from Abyssinia to the Cape, and occasionally visits the south of Europe, isconsiderably the larger, and is, indeed, only inferior in size to the condor, attaininga length of some 45 inches; the general colour of its plumage is brown, and theinner surface of tlie thigh is feathered. In the smaller Pondicherry vulture(0. calvus), on the other hand, the inner surface of the thigh is naked, and theplumage black; hence it is often spoken of as the black vulture, although that 26o DIURNAL BIRDS OF PRE K name more properly belongs to the representative of the genus Vidtur. Rangingfrom India through Burma to Siam, and by no means abundant in individuals, thePondicherry vulture, according to Jerdon, is usually seen alone or in pairs, althoughoccasionally four or live may be observed hunting in company over some rockyhill. Some of the other Indian vultures usually give place when this speciesarrives on the scene, on which account it is commonly known as the raj-sogno,
Text Appearing After Image:
MZ PONDICHERRY VULTURES GORGING (1 nat. size). or king-vulture, among the natives of part of India. This vulture is a late breeder,generally laying in March, although some individuals begin as early as the end ofJanuary, and others delay till April. It appears to build invariably in trees; tallpeepuls and banyans being its especial favourites. An anonymous writer to theAsian mentions that in April 1887 he came across a nest of this vulture in Sirmur. Being on the hillside above, I could look right down into the nest; the ownerwas sitting very close, and it was only when I got (juite near, shouted, and threwsticks at it, that it moved; then, standing up, it optned its beak and spread out its VULTURES. 261 wings by way of intimidation, at the same time disclosing to view one large whiteQgg upon which it had been sitting. The nest, placed in the crown of the tree, wasan enormous mass of sticks, with finer ones as a lining; and the large round white0,^^ was veiy nearly hatched. A nest men

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