File:The royal natural history (1893) (14784510502).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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e of the Bay of Bengal. An extinctgriffon vulture occurs in the Miocene deposits of Malta. Unlike the black vulture, the European griffon vulture fre()uents open androcK:y districts. Regarding its flight, Mr. O. Salvin writes that it is a finesight to w^atch the ease wnth which the griffon sails through the air; theapparently effortless extension of the wings seems amply sufficient to sustainits huge body, and no flapping motion is necessary to enable it to mount to VOL. IV.—17 258 DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. a OT^eat heio-ht. It is only on leaving a rock that a few strokes are requisite toattain the necessary impulse, after which, with primaries bent upward by the forceof the air, it performs its stately evolutions by soaring only. In alighting, thebird drops its legs some distance from the rock, and, sailing to within a few yards,it checks its velocity by two or three heavy strokes of the wings. The griffoninvariably nests on rocks, and in the south of Europe probably lays in February,
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euppells vulture (\ nat. size as young ones are connnonly found in most nests early in April. During incuba-tion one bird sits constantly, and, if driven off, immediately returns. The nest isan immense structure composed entirely of sticks; and it is common to find fromtwo to six nests placed near together. In the case of the Himalayan species, atanyrate, but one egg is laid in each nest; the ground-colour being greyish white,upon which there may or may not be dark markings. In some cases the Himalayangriffon takes possession of the nest of an eagle, before its rightful owners havethought about breeding. Gifted with the power of undergoing long fasts, the VULTURES. 259 griffon, when it can obtain sufficient food, is a perfect glutton. Canon Tristrammentioning that he has seen one of these birds which was too gorged to stand,continue its feast while lying on its side. Grittbn \ultures, both of the commonspecies and the kind confined to Africa, are exceedingly abundant in Abyssinia. The

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