ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



873 



victim has been seized by the great hooked 

 claws, it has small chance for escape. 



The nesting habits of this magnificent bird 

 are very little known. It is said to build in the 

 tops of the highest forest trees or on rocky 

 cliffs, the nests being repaired and used year 

 after year. It is sometimes said by the indians 

 that tlie Harpy lays four or five eggs, the last 

 tliree serving as food for the eaglets hatched 

 from the two others. This, however, is a very 

 common tale, most often related of those species 

 concerning which the truth is not known, and 

 is probably untrue. 



Because of the inaccesibility of tlieir habitat. 

 Harpies are seldom to be obtained and our two 

 fine specimens were secured only after years of 

 waiting. 



Of the larger birds of prey of tlie Old World, 

 probably the best known is the Lammergeyer or 

 Bearded Vulture (Gypaetiis barbafiis). This 

 bird seems to occupy a position intermediate be- 

 tween the eagles and vultures, differing from the 

 latter in its fully feathered head, but resembling 

 them closely in most otiier points. It probably 

 feeds mostly upon such carcasses as chance 

 brings in its way, but there seems to be no 

 doubt tliat it kills its own prey on occasion. It 

 is said to be very destructive among the herds 

 of sheep in spring, darting at the lambs as thev 

 stand near the brink of a precipice and either 

 pushing them over with the force of the blow 

 or so startling the little creatures as to cause 

 them to lose their balance and plunge down- 

 ward, when their persecutor follows leisurelv 

 to feast. It is from this habit that its German 

 name has been derived. 



The Lammergeyer once ranged from Portugal 

 to China, but is now no longer found in Europe, 

 unless possibly in the mountains of the south- 

 eastern portion. It is a bird of the peaks and 

 builds its nest in the most inaccessible cavities. 

 The single brownish egg is laid usually in 

 February. The period of incubation and the 

 length of time spent in the nest by the young 

 bird, are unknown. 



The Golden Eagle {Aqiiila clni/scictos) is 

 found throughout North America, Europe and 

 northern Asia, varying its habits according to 

 the conformation of the country of its range. 

 Its food consists of live mammals and birds, in 

 the pursuit of wliich it is very active, when its 

 size is considered. Dead animals, however, are 

 not refused and doubtless form a very eonsider- 

 aljle portion of its diet. 



In North America, this bird is often confused 

 with the immature bald eagle from which it is 

 to be distinguished by its feathered tarsi. In 



LAMMERGEYER 



