45 
Lammergeyers (which now alas are becoming yearly, “ few by 
degrees and sorrowfully fewer’) may have taken to laying 
double the number of eggs that their confreres (I ought perhaps 
says conseurs) lay elsewhere. 
I don’t know, by the way, that I quite understand this theory 
of Mr. 'Tristram’s. Is it supposed that the poor things, viewing 
sadly the approaching extinction of their long descended race, 
make extra philoprogenitive exertions to avert such a catastro- 
phe? or is it that the struggle for existence diminishing, the 
birds get such unusual rations, that excessive fecundity is super- 
induced ? 
In the Eastern Atlas, one, seems the normal number of eggs 
laid. Mr. Salvin tells us (Ibis, 1859), “ The first opportunity 
I had of observing this finest of birds, was in the neighbourhood 
of Sonk Harras in the first week in April. In a ramble in 
search of a spot for our encampment we discovered an eyrie 
in one of the stupendous cliffs that characterize that district. 
It was quite inaccessible, and we had to bear our disappointment, 
as well asa good wetting, and return to the hotel (if the house 
where we put up may be designated by such a title), after an 
almost fruitless day. We were not then aware that the eggs 
of this species had long been hatched. It would appear that 
this bird, like the Gyps Fulvus, se/dom, if ever, lays more than one 
egg; no instance of more than one young has ever occurred in 
the nests visited.” 
Mr. Simpson, in his ornithological notes from Mesolonghi and 
southern Etolia, tells us of an unsuccessful attack on a Lammer- 
geyer’s nest which, on the Ist of March, contained an ego, 
supposed to be near hatching. 
In the Ibis for 1862, it is mentioned that Herr Meves had, by 
a simple chemical test, ascertained the red colouring in this 
bird’s feathers, as also the rustiness observable at times in the 
feathers of the common Crane, (Gus Cinerea) to be due to a 
superficial deposit of oxide of iron ; as also, that the colouring 
matter on the eggs, arose from the same cause. Herr Meves 
suggested, that the stain on the feathers might be owing to the 
birds bathing im water containing iron in solution; but my 
belief is, that the Lammergeyer is a very dirty bird, (it swarms 
with vermin to such a degree, that cats and the like will seldom 
touch it when dead,) and never washes! I have been watching 
this bird, off and on, for the last twenty years, and I have 
never yet seen it bathe ; nor have I ever yet met with any one, 
amongst the numerous intelligent native sportsmen whom I 
have had to do with in the Himalayahs, who has witnessed 
such an operation. Certainly iron does enter into the com- 
