The SPARROW-HAWK GOOSE VULTURE (_Gyps Rüppellii_), the handsomest member
of this group, is three feet two inches long, and seven feet six inches
broad; the wing measures two feet, and the tail nine inches and a half.
In the adult bird all the large feathers, except the quills and those
of the tail, are dark brown, tipped with a dirty white, crescent-shaped
patch, thus giving a chequered appearance to the body. The skin of the
neck is greyish blue, and shades downwards at its sides into a reddish
hue, these colours being distinctly visible through the few scanty
feathers with which it is overspread. The eye is silver grey, the beak
yellow at the base and grey at the tip, the cere black, and the feet
dark grey. The frill around the neck is formed of short, hairy, white
feathers. In the young birds the small feathers are dark greyish brown,
with yellowish brown shafts, and the quills and tail-feathers blackish
brown. The eye is pale reddish brown, the cere and beak are black, the
latter tipped with blue; the feet are greenish grey; the ruff is composed
of long, narrow, dark brown feathers, each with a yellowish shaft.
Several years elapse before the young acquire the full plumage of the
adult birds.
The Sparrow-hawk Goose Vulture inhabits Nubia, and all the central
portions of Africa with which we are acquainted. The southern portion of
that continent possesses another species, the _Gyps Kolbii_, but of its
distinguishing features we cannot speak with certainty. All the various
species of Goose Vultures usually frequent mountain ranges, and build
their nests on the rocks or upon trees. They live for the most part in
very large flocks, which form extensive settlements during the breeding
season, and constantly associate with a variety of other birds. In many
respects they are inferior to the rest of the family, but their flight
is light and elegant, and they walk with such rapidity that a man must
run very fast indeed in order to compete with one of them on _terra
firma_. In disposition all are violent and mischievous, and so extremely
quarrelsome that battles and disputes are of constant occurrence between
them and other Vultures; even those of the same species do not live on
much better terms, and often engage in such deadly encounters that they
appear entirely regardless of danger, and will allow a man to approach
close to them. We have heard, on reliable authority, of an instance in
which a shepherd was compelled to employ the "argument of a thick stick"
to a couple of Goose Vultures, with which he laid about him very freely
before he could persuade them to relinquish their hold upon each other,
and retire from the field. According to our own observations, these birds
do not begin their search for carrion until the day is far advanced.
When they have found a carcase, they at once commence upon the entrails,
plunging their heads into the interior, and dragging out their favourite
parts with great excitement and violence; Lázár tells us that they
often fall upon sick and dying sheep, and kill the poor beasts in this
revolting manner.
In Europe the Goose Vulture breeds about March, and places its nest,
which is formed of small branches, upon a rock. Many couples often build
but a few paces from each other, and it is not unusual to see the nests
of the Black Stork and some species of Eagles forming part of their
settlements. The brood consists but of one coarse-shelled white egg,
which in size resembles that of a Goose. Both parents assist in the
somewhat lengthy process of incubation, and tend their little, round,
woolly ball of a nestling with great devotion and patience, for so weak
is it when it first sees the light, that three months often elapse
before it is able to fly. It would be almost impossible to render one
of these birds really tame, but we have heard of an instance in which
a Goose Vulture became so much attached to an old mastiff belonging to
its master, that when the dog died its feathered companion refused to
devour the body, even when very hungry, and, after pining for a few days,
expired, apparently through grief at its loss. The feathers of the Goose
Vulture are much esteemed in Egypt, and large sums, we are told, were
formerly paid by Turkish merchants for articles of dress made with them
by some tribes of Arabs.
* * * * *
The CRESTED VULTURES are distinguished from the above group by their
strength and compactness of body, as well as by their muscular neck,
large head, powerful, eagle-like beak, and broad wings. Their plumage is
also thicker and softer than in the Goose Vultures; the head is covered
with short, curly, wool-like down, which is prolonged at the nape into a
kind of crest, the neck and part of the throat are bare, but the lower
part is ornamented with a frill, formed of large, broad, dark feathers.