39 
geyers are down as soon as the Vultures, and, by no means be- 
have, as Dr. Bree says of the European bird, in a cowardly 
fashion. On the contrary the Lammergeyer holds its own against 
all comers, including a stray Adjutant or two, which are often to 
be seen in the summer and autumn, even as high up in the 
Himalayahs as Simla. It is only proper, however, to note here, 
what Dr. Stoliczka says on this subject: “The Bearded Vulture 
is common all through the Sutlej valley and through W. Tibet ; 
it generally retires in winter from the northern part of W. Tibet 
to the more southern hills, but permanently resides about Chini. 
The Chukor, Caccabis Chukor, and other partridges are its 
favourite meal. It is, however, well known, that this bearded 
eagle often accepts any other refuse of bones and meat, being 
very often seen near the houses of hill stations.” 
“ When marching through Lahul, in 1865, the people assured 
me that it very often carries off lambs and kids, and is very 
bold at the time of breeding. The natives of Kulu, about 
Plash and the eastern districts, prize the meat very highly, 
which is not only eaten by the low class, the Kolies, but also by 
the higher class the Kaists. They generally tie a Chukor, on a 
short string, and stick four or five sharpened spears in the 
ground crossing each other, so as partially at least to cover the 
bird, and at the same time to radiate with their points in differ- 
end directions. The eagle is watched from some distance and 
as soon as it throws itself with its usual great force and velocity 
upon the prey, it is overpowered with large clubs before it can 
extricate the spears from its body.” 
This account surprises me, I have always observed the Lam- 
mergeyer descend very gingerly, a few feet off anything it 
fancied and then walk up to its food; perhaps, when after 
living game it may be less careful and sluggish. 
I am not the only person who considers the popular ac- 
counts of the daring and ferocity of the Lammergeyer gross 
exaggerations: our two best Himalayan observers come to 
precisely the same conclusion.—I will first quote what Captain 
Hutton writes to me: “These birds are common in the hills, 
from the Doon to the snowy range; it breeds for several 
seasons together in the same nest, sometimes giving the old 
nest a few repairs. ‘The spots selected at Mussooree are of 
the most dangerous description, and often perfectly inac- 
eessible, while even in the least dangerous spots, a man 
must be lowered down over the rock by a stout rope to 
ascertain if there are either eggs or young ones in the nest; 
since that, being generally placed in a wide fissure in the per- 
oO 
pendicular face of the cliff, is not visible from above. 
