632 EAPTOEES, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 



that boiii sight and smell concur in producing the result : these 

 two senses may either exercise an equal power, or one of them 

 may predominate over the other. 



The Yulture family exhale a tainted odour, which is owing to 

 the peculiar nature of their nutriment ; it is, therefore, impossible 

 for their flesh to be in any way utilised as food. This family 

 comprises four principal genera: the Grifibns [Gjjpaetos, Storr), 

 the Sarcoramphi (Dumeril), the Cathartes (Cuv. ; Gallinazos, 

 Yieill.), and the Common Vultures {Percnopterus, Cuv. ; Neophron, 

 Sav.). 



The Griffons, or Yulture Eagles ( Vulturfulous, Bennett), form, 

 as their name indicates, an intermediate genus between the Eagles 

 and the Yultures. Although they have small and goggle eyes, 

 not very strong talons, and a projecting crop during the diges- 

 tion of their meals, they are allied to the Eagles in virtue of 

 their feathered tarsi, as well as by their head and neck ; they also 

 show a j)reference for living prey, which they attack with readi- 

 ness. We will complete their portrait by stating that they have 

 a very strong beak, enlarged towards the point. 



The Bearded Griffon [Gypaetus barbatus, Gould) is the cele- 

 brated Lammergeyer, described b}" Buflbn under the name of the 

 Golden Yulture. It owes its name to a tuft of stiif hair which 

 is under the beak : the loftiest mountains of Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa are its habitat. Its aerie, which is of considerable dimen- 

 sions, it builds amongst the most inaccessible rocks. On the old 

 continent it is the largest of all the birds of prey, and sometimes 

 reaches five feet in length. Its spread of wing generally mea- 

 sures nine or ten feet. Sometimes these limits are exceeded, for 

 one was killed during the French expedition to Egypt, in the 

 presence of Monge and Bertholet, which measured upwards of 

 fourteen feet. 



The Griffon is endowed with wonderful strength of body and 

 powers of flight. It is not, therefore, surprising that it attacks 

 animals of considerable size, such as calves, lambs, deer, cha- 

 mois, &c., and that it succeeds in overpowering them. Like the 

 Eagle, it is reported to perpetrate the following ruse, one almost 

 telling of reasoning powers. Waiting until its victim stands 

 isolated on the edge of a precipice, it flies suddenly against the 



