Page:The Common Birds of Bombay.djvu/30

14 There are two other kinds of vultures which may occasionally be seen in Bombay. One is the KingVulture (Otogyps calvus), a royal bird, not indeed larger than the others, but of nobler aspect and prouder character. It appears singly, or with its mate, and will not consort with the herd. When it comes to a carcase, the others have to stand by till it has dined. There is no difficulty in recognising this species by its deep black colour, relieved only by two pure white patches on its thighs and by the bloodred tint of its bare head and neck. It builds on some solitary tree and lays a single white egg.

Our fourth vulture is that foul bird known as Pharaoh's Chicken, and by other more opprobrious nicknames. Its title in science is Neophron ginginiamis. It is one of the commonest birds about Poona and everywhere on the plains of the Deccan, but seldom visits the coast. I have, however, seen a pair on more than one occasion about the Flats. It is a white bird, not much bigger than a kite, with only the quill feathers of the wing black. Its bill is long and thin, its naked face yellow, and its tail wedge-shaped. Its neck is not bare, but clothed with long, rusty-white feathers, pointing backwards. It does not stand upright, like the true vultures, but carries its body like a duck and steps like a recruit. By these signs you may know Pharaoh's Chicken. It makes its shabby nest, of sticks, rags and rubbish, on trees, ledges of public buildings, or anywhere, about March, and lays two white eggs, more or less blotched with brown. For the first year the young birds are brown all over and look rather like mis-shapen kites,