LAHMER-OETER 



44 THE BEARDED EAGLE. 



THE BEARDED EAGLE, OR LAMMER-GEYER. 



The beak is of a purplish flesh-color, and hooked only at the point 

 the head and neck are co veered with feathers. 

 Beneath the throat hangs a kind of beard, com- 

 posed of very narrow feathers, like hairs. The 

 legs are covered with feathers quite to the toes, 

 which are yellow : the claws are black. The body 

 is blackish-brown above ; and the under parts are 

 white, with a tinge of brown. 



The Bearded Eagles, of which so many fabulous 

 tales have been related, are inhabitants of the 

 highest parts of the great chain of the Alps that 

 separates Switzerland from Italy, They are fre- 

 quently seen of immense size. One that was 

 caught in the canton of Glarus, measured from the tip of its beak to 

 the extremity uf its tail, nearly seven feet, and eight feet and a half 

 from tip to tip of its wings ; but some have been shot that were much 

 larger. 



These birds form their nests in the clefts of rocks, inaccessible to 

 man; and usually produce three or four young-ones at a time. They 

 subsist on alpine animals, such as Chamois, white Hares, Marmots, 

 'Kids, and particularly Lambs. It is from their devouring the latter, 

 that they are called, by the Swiss peasants, Lammer-geyer, or Lamb 

 Vultures,* The Bearded Eagles seldom appear except in small par- 

 ties, usually consisting of the two old birds and their young-ones. 



If common report may be credited, this rapacious bird does not 

 confine its assaults to the brute creation, but sometimes attacks and 

 succeeds in carrying ofi' young children. Gesner, on the authority 

 of Fabricius, says, respecting it, that some peasants between Meissen 

 and Brisa, in Germany, losing every day some of their cattle, which 

 they sought for in the forests in vain, observed by chance a very 

 large nest resting on three oaks, constructed with sticks and branches 

 of trees, and as wide as the body of a cart. They found in this nest 

 three young birds, already so large that their wings extended seven 

 ells. Their legs were as thick as those of a Lion; and their claws the 

 ■size of a man's fingers. In the nest were found several skins of Calves 

 and Sheep. 



It appears to have been from one of the two varieties of this bird 

 lliat are sometimes seen in Persia and other eastern countries, rather 

 than the Condor, as is generally supposed, that the fabulous stories 

 of the Hoc of the Arabian Tales originated ; since the latter is con- 

 fined to the wild districts of South America, and has never been 

 ascertained to have visited the old continent. 



One of these varieties also it is that Mr. Bruce describes as having 



* It is, however, to be remarked that the Swiss do not confine the appellation of 

 'Liammer-geyer to this species, but sometimes extend it to other large birds of prey 



