94 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



ORDER, ACCIPITRES. 



FAMILY, VULTURID-4i. 



i88. Gypaettts barba/us. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 123, No. 6.) 

 Lammer-Geier, or Bearded Vulture. Hebr. D"l5, i.e., 'the Breaker.' 

 Arab, ^oj, BidJ ; and gencricaily j~~i, AUssr, along with the other large 

 Vultures. A. V., 'Ossifrage' [i.e., Bone-Breaker) (Lev. xi. 13). 



This magnificent bird, the prince of Vultures, may still be seen in 

 most of the mountainous regions of Palestine, but only singly, or a pair 

 together. Its favourite resorts are the gorges opening on the Dead Sea 

 and the Jordan Valley, especially the ravines of the Arnon and the 

 Callirrhoe, where one of the grandest sights a naturalist can enjoy, as he 

 stands on the brow of a gorge, is the spectacle of one of these majestic 

 birds, with a stretch of wing ten feet across, sailing apparently motionless 

 up and down the valley, close to the crest, and often within a hundred yards 

 of the spectator. Though so conspicuous, the number of Lammer-Geiers 

 in Palestine might, probably, be counted on the fingers. They are carrion 

 feeders, but marrow-bones, tortoises and snakes are also favourite deli- 

 cacies. It carries these up to a great height in the air, and then drops 

 them on a rock or stone, repeating the operation till the prey is thoroughly 

 shattered. From this habit is derived its Hebrew name. The poet 

 .iEschylus met his death from a tortoise dropped on his bald head by 

 one of these birds. The Lammer-Geier's range extends from the 

 Pyrenees, Alps, and Carpathians eastward to China and Tartary, south of 

 Altai, being found in all the mountainous regions south of 45° N. Lat., 

 and also in the Atlas range of North Africa. The species of Eastern 

 and Southern Africa very slightly differs from the northern race. Every- 

 where, even in Tartary, its numbers are rapidly diminishing, and it will 

 probably soon be added to the already long list of extinct species, 



189. Vuliur monacJms. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 122. Cinereous 

 Vulture. Not distinguished specifically by the natives from the following 

 species. 



It occurs sparingly throughout the country, being chiefly seen in the 

 wild uplands of the south and on the plains of Moab ; seldom more than 



