198 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



rocks, (Hutton) Carrion, rarely taking off anything larger than a 

 fowl, which it devours as it flies. (Adams) ' Preys much on mar- 

 mots." (Bishop Heber) ' Children at Almora/' In Europe 

 said to take lambs, kids, young chamois, and even children ; also 

 said to hurl chamois, and even on the Himalayas, Ovis ammon, off 

 the cliffs. Natives of the Himalayas say it carries away Ibex, 

 young bears, sheep and goats. Jerd. B. I. I, 15-16. 



Supposed in the Alps to live upon lambs and children, but 

 found in the Himalayas, where it is common, to subsist upon 

 carrion and to have a particular preference for bones. Imp. Gaz., 

 I, 252. 



Such stories of taking children and throwing goats over preci- 

 pices are now discredited. It is somewhat doubtful whether this 

 great bird ever attacks living prey, its food consisting chiefly of bones 

 and offal. It rarely descends on a carcase ; but Hume found it 

 feeding on human ordure. Large bones, as the old story goes, are 

 dropped to break them. F. I. Ill, 330. Swooped at young 

 markhor. B. N. H. S. J. XII, 343. 



Carcases in parts of Spain and India ; in Macedonia lambs, kids, 

 fowls, and no doubt it occasionally kills small mammals and birds. 

 It perhaps scares young animals over cliffs, and like Neophron 

 is said to carry bones and land- tortoises up into the air, letting them 

 drop to break them. E. B. C. N. H., 15L 



Aquila. Eagles prey on mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, etc., 

 and all or nearly all feed on carrion as well. The largest of them 

 destroy various quadrupeds, but few of them disdain food that has 

 not been killed by themselves, and some feed greedily on carrion. 

 Jerd. B. I. I, 55 ; carrion, if fairly fresh and newly born lambs. 

 E. B. C. N. H., 148,160. 



1200. Aquila chrysaetus. Golden Eagle. Antelopes, foxes, and 

 wolves are hunted by this eagle when trained. Jerd. B. 1. 1.. 156. 



Their prey consists of antelopes, wolves, foxes, fawns, lambs, 

 hares, rabbits, marmots, geese, ducks, grouse and so forth, with 

 carrion if sufficiently fresh. E. B. C. N. H., 161, 



