GYPAETUS BARBATUS 89 



Although gradually but steadily disappearing in Europe, this 

 magnificent bird is still to be found in certain numbers on the higher 

 mountain ranges of North-west Africa, where it appears to be univer- 

 sally, though naturally more or less sparingly, distributed throughout 

 the entire Atlas region from Tunis to Marocco. Regarding its 

 occurrence in the latter country we have comparatively little informa- 

 tion, but the species undoubtedly exists there, and I have myself seen 

 a specimen of it from Marocco in Mr. J. H. Gurney's collection at 

 Keswick Hall, Norwich. In Algeria the species has been more often 

 observed, and to Loche, Salvin, and other ornithologists we are 

 indebted for excellent notes concerning the bird, and its occurrence 

 in that country, and the Eastern Atlas generally. Several Algerian 

 specimens are to be found in the Paris and Milan Museums, as well 

 as in various private collections. 



In the Tunisian Regency, though nowhere abundant, the Bearded 

 Vulture is by no means rare, and it is to be sincerely hoped that, 

 notwithstanding the rapid opening up of the country, and consequent 

 encroachment on its breeding haunts, the species may continue to 

 exist there. 



Salvin, when travelling in the Eastern Atlas, met with Gijpa'etus 

 on several occasions, and found the species breeding near Souk Ahras, 

 Djebel Dekma, Khifan-M'Sakta, and Kef-Laks. 



The naturalist Blanc informs me that he has occasionally received 

 examples of this Vulture from the neighbourhood of Zaghouan, as 

 well as from the Djebel Ressas near the town of Tunis. Dr. Koenig 

 also has met with the species on the Djebel Eessas, and obtained 

 a specimen there (J. f. 0. 1888, p. 146). Baron v. Erlanger states that 

 it is not at all of unusual occurrence in Tunisia, and that in the south 

 of the Regency he knew of four mountain ranges where the species 

 breeds. He secured a fine male specimen of it on the Djebel Sidi- 

 Aich (J. f. 0. 1898, p. 899). 



I have myself seen this grand bird on more than one occasion, 

 when travelling in the Regency, though never at close quarters. 



In its general habits the Lammergeyer, or Bearded Vulture, 

 resembles the Vultures more than it does the Eagles, although in its 

 solitary disposition it certainly differs from the former, and, as Canon 

 Tristram rightly says, it is neither gregarious as Gyps fulvus, nor 

 sociable as Neophron pe)xnopterus. It is in fact generally to be met 

 with singly, or at most in pairs. 



