The TAWNY GOOSE VULTURE (_Gyps fulvus_), the only species inhabiting
Europe, is about forty-one inches long, and ninety-nine broad; the wing
measures twenty-six, and the tail eleven inches. Its plumage is almost
entirely of a pale tawny colour, darker on the lower parts of the body
than upon the back; the large wing-covers are surrounded by a broad white
border, the tail-feathers and primary quills are black, the secondaries
greyish brown, edged with reddish brown upon the outer web. The eye is
light brown, the beak rust colour, and the feet light greyish brown.
The plumage of the young is darker than that of the old birds, and the
feathers upon their necks are long, brown, and narrow.
This species is frequently met with in the southern countries of Europe,
and occasionally appears in the more central provinces of that continent;
it also frequents Egypt, Nubia, Algiers, and Morocco; but although it
is sometimes seen around the Himalayas, it is replaced in the lowland
districts of Hindostan by the _Gyps Indicus_ and _Gyps Bengalensis_, two
very similar birds.