8 SCAVENGERS OF THE VELD 



making a nest of sticks and lining it with fibres, and hair 

 of dassies (Procavia) and hares. It lays, during the months 

 of November to January, three eggs of a bluish-white colour 

 marked" with various shades of brown. 



EAGLES 



Several of the Eagles feed on carrion, but as they are 

 nothing like exclusively carrion-feeders, we shall not describe 

 them in this chapter. 



LAMMERGEYER 



The peculiar Lammergeyer (Gypaetus ossifragus) is called 

 by the Boers the Lammervanger (Lamb-catcher), but the 

 stories told of its attacking sheep, and even human beings, are 

 exaggerated ! They subsist chiefly on bones and carrion and 

 reside in mountain- fastnesses, the DrakensbergBange between 

 Natal and the Orange Free State being a favourite haunt, 



The bird has a bunch of black bristles under the chin, 

 and the general colour is ashy-black above, and bright 

 rusty-chestnut mottled with white below. Length 44 inches. 



Some of the old Boers looked upon this species as a bird 

 of ill-omen. It derived its specific name of ossifragus from 

 a popular belief amongst the ancients to the effect that 

 the bird carried into the air bones too large to swallow, 

 and let them fall on a rock for the purpose of breaking them. 



THE MARABOU STORK 



One other bird remains to be mentioned, the solemn and 

 grotesque-looking Marabou (Leptoptilus crumcniferus) , which, 

 although belonging to the stork family ((' icon i idee), is never- 

 theless a true carrion feeder, its strong sharp beak enabling 

 it to compete successfully against the Vultures and Havens. 



Although feeding largely on carrion, it also eats crabs, 

 fish, and various insects. Andersson mentions it as a true 

 scavenger. It does not breed in South Africa, and is a 



