GYPS FULVUS.
(Griffon Vulture.)
Vultur fulvus, J. P. G-melin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 249 (1788).
The old controversy about the smelling-power of this bird is well known. Canon Tristram has made some remarks (quoted in the 4th edition of Yarrell) which appear to me convincing. Mr. Darwin ('Origin of Species,' p. 197) says : — "The naked skin on the head of the Vulture is looked upon as an adaptation for wallowing in putridity; why is the skin naked on the clean-feeding Turkey?" I don't know if he has ever answered his own ques- tion ; nor do I profess that the present reason is certain ; but when we look at Talegallus Lathami (the Wattled Talegallus of Australia), we may see a cause for its bare head and neck.
So necessary is it to preserve its plumage when heaping up rubbish, that Mr. Gould, the first to make known these singular habits, states ('Handbook to the Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. p. 152) as follows:—"The materials composing these mounds are accumulated by the bird grasping a quantity in its foot and throwing it backwards to one common centre." Nevertheless the head must be frequently pushed in among the dirt and stuflP of the mound ; and then the feathers would be injured. Doubtless the wild Turkey is not an Australian Brush-Turkey, neither does it make a mound for its eggs ; but it is by nature a forest-bird, and may require to thrust its head among fallen leaves &c. However that may be, it appears to me that in the Brush-Turkey we have an apparent cause, other
than putridity, but yet reasonably probable, for the naked head and neck.
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