502 LAMMERGEYER 



wing-coverts generally, are of a glossy greyish-black, most of the 

 feathers having a white shaft and a median tawny line. The 

 quill-feathers, both of the wings and tail, are of a dark blacldsh- 

 grey. The irides are of a light orange, and the sclerotic tunics, — 

 equivalent to the " white of the eye " in most animals, — which in 

 few birds are visible, are in this very conspicuous and of a deep 

 crimson, giving it an air of great ferocity. In the young of the 

 year the whole head, neck, and throat are clothed in dull black, 

 and most of the feathers of the mantle and wing-coverts are broadly 

 tipped and mesially streaked with tawny or lightish grey. 



The Lammergeyer breeds early in the year. The nest is of 

 large size, built of sticks, lined with soft material, and placed on a 

 ledge of rock — a spot being chosen, and often occupied for many 

 years, which is nearly always difficult of access, and not unfre- 

 quently quite inaccessible, to man, from the precipitous or 

 overhanging configuration of the cliffs. Here in the month ot 

 February a single egg is usually laid. This is more than 3 inches 

 in length by nearly 2| in breadth, of a pale but lively brownish- 

 orange. The young when in the nest are clad in down of a dirty 

 white, varied with grey on the head and neck, and "with ochraceous 

 in the iliac region. How long the eggs take in hatching, or 

 how long the young remain nestlings, seems to be unknown. 

 Equally unknown is the length of time that elapses before the latter 

 assume the adult plumage, but it is probable that this period must 

 at least exceed a tweh'^emonth. 



There is much discrepancy as to the ordinary food of the 

 Lammergeyer, some observers maintaining that it lives almost 

 entirely on carrion, ofFal, and the most disgusting garbage ; but 

 there is no question of its frequently taking living prey, and it is 

 reasonable to suppose that this bird, like so many others, is not 

 everywhere uniform in its habits. Its very name shews it to be the 

 reputed enemy of shepherds, and it is in some measure owing to their 

 hostility that it has been extirpated in so many parts of its 

 European range. Its usual mode of proceeding is said to be by 

 suddenly rushing at the animal, especially if it be young, when in 

 a somewhat dangerous position, so startling it as to make it lose its 

 foothold and fall down the precipice.^ But the Lammei^geyer has 



of oxide of iron on the feathers, and that the colouring-matter on the eggs (to be 

 presently described) also arises from the same cause. This opinion has, however, 

 been denied by several other naturalists, though none of them seem to have 

 tried the experiment ; while Mr. Hume, who has {Scrap Book, p. 46), confirms 

 Meves's statement. In confinement, moreover, the bird has been observed 

 always to lose or not to acquire its tawny tint. 



^ Stories are told of its attacking human beings under such circumstances, 

 and the present writer is not disinclined to believe that some of such stories may 

 be true, though he is unable to refer to any that rest on testimony sufficient to 

 dispel all doubt. 



