1211 



VULTURID^E. 



VULTURIDJE. 



1243 



of the plains, in consequence of the laborious efforts which they mak< 

 to raise themselves into the air ; when once on the wing however thei 

 flight is grand and powerful. They rise higher and higher, till thei 

 enormous bulk is lost to human ken ; but though beyond the spher 

 of man a vision the telescopic eye of the bird is at work. The momen 

 any animal sinks to the earth in death, the imperceptible vulture 

 detects it. Does the hunter bring down some large quadruped beyonc 

 iw powers to remove, and leave it to obtain assistance on his return 

 however speedy, he finds it surrounded by a band of vultures, where 

 not one was to be seen a quarter of an hour before. 



It is a native of South Africa. It has been taken in the neighbour 

 hood of Athens, and must be therefore added to the catalogue o 

 European birds; but it does not appear in Mr. Gould's grand work o 

 the ' Birds of Europe.' 



Sociable Vulture (Tultur auriculara}. 



Gypaetia barbatui. This is the celebrated Liitnmergeier. It is the 

 Avoltoio Barbuto of the Italians ; the Weisskopfige Geier Adler, and 

 Bartadler of the Germans; and Bearded Vulture of the English. 



Head and upper part of the neck dirty white ; a black stripe extends 

 from the base of the beak, and passes above the eyes; another, arising 

 behind the eyes, passes over the ears; lower part of the neck, breast, 

 and belly, orange-red ; mantle, back, and wing-coverts, deep gray- 

 brown, but on the centre of each feather is a white longitudinal stripe; 

 wings and tail-feathers ashy-gray, the shafts white; tail long, very 

 much graduated ; beak and claws black; feet blue; iris orange; eye 

 surrounded by a red lid. Length about four feet seven inches. 



According to the age of the bird the plumage varies as follows : 

 there are brown feathers more or less on the top of the head ; those 

 of the lower part of the neck, breast, and belly often terminated with 

 black ; the white stripe on the middle of the feathers of the back and 

 the coverts of the wings more or less developed ; the belly often of a 

 gray brown or variegated with white; iris of a more or less deep 

 orange colour. 



The young in the first two years have the head and neck of a 

 brown-black ; the lower part of the body gray-brown with spots of 

 dirty white ; on the upper part of the back are great white spots; the 

 mantle and the wing-coverts are blackish with brighter spots ; quills 

 blackish-brown ; iris brown ; feet livid. 



It inhabits the highest mountains of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the 

 chain of the Pyrenees, and the Helvetian Alps, Sardinia, Greece, and 

 the Tyrol In Asia, the chain of the Caucasus, the Himalaya Moun- 

 tains, the Siberian and Persian Mountains. It is also found in tho 

 lofty mountains of Central Africa and towards the borders of the Red 

 Sea, principally in the most inaccessible parts of those mountain)), and 

 where there is plenty of tho larger sort of gnrae. 



"Unlike the typical vultures," says Mr. Gould, "which are distin- 

 guished by their bare necks, indicative of their propensity for feeding 

 on carrion, the Lssmmergeyer has the neck thickly covered with fea- 

 thers, resembling those of tho true eagles, with which it also accords 

 in its bold and predatory habits, pounciug with violent impetuosity 

 on animals exceeding itself in size ; hence the young Chamois, the 

 Wild Goat, the Mountain Hare, and various species of birds find in it 

 a formidable and ferocious enemy. Having seized its prey, tho 

 Lajmmergeyer devours it upon the spot, the straight form of their 

 talons disabling them from carrying it to a distance. It refuses flesh 

 in a state of putrefaction, unless sharply pressed by hunger; hence 

 nature has limited this species as to numbers : while, on the other 

 hand, to the Vultures, who are destined to clear the earth from animal 

 matter in a state of decomposition, and thus render the utmost service 

 to man in the countries where they abound, she has given an almost 

 illimitable increase." 



Bearded Vulture (Gypaftua liarbatus). 



Neophron perenoptenu. This is the Vautour Ourigourap of Le 

 Vaillant, the Rhachamah or Pharaoh's Hen of Bruce and others, 

 Avoltoio Aquiliuo and Caporaoccajo of the Italians, and Maltese 

 Vulture of Latham. Head and only the front of the neck covered 



ih a naked skin of a livid yellowish colour ; the whole plumage 

 pure white, except the great quill-feathers, which are black ; feathers 

 if the occiput long and loose; cere orange, iris yellow, mandibles 

 alackish ; feet livid yellow, claws black, tail very much graduated. 

 Length two feet and a few inches. 



According to age, the bird varies in its plumage, being either deep 

 arown spotted with rusty, or bright gray-brown varied with white 

 and yellow feathers. In this state the naked part of the head is livid, 

 ;he cere white slightly tinged with orange, the iris brown, and the 

 "eet livid white. 



The young in t' e first year have the naked part of the head livid, 

 covered with a thi gray down ; cere and feet gray ash ; the whole 

 ilumage deep brova varied with yellowish-brown spots; greater quiil- 

 'eathers black ; iri brown. 



It is found (ver rarely) in the north of Europe, in Switzerland in 

 he neighbourhood of Geneva. Very common in Spain on the Pyrenees, 

 ?ortugal, Malta, Turkey, and in the Archipelago. Nowhere so abund- 

 ant as in Africa. Russia as far north as Astracau, Arabia, Persia; the 

 Deccan (Col. Sykes). 



In October, 1825. one of these birds was killed near Kilve in Somer- 

 etshire. It was, when first seen, feeding upon a dead sheep, and had 

 o gorged itself with flesh, that it was either incapable of flight or 

 ndisposed for exertion, and was easily shot. At the same time, another 

 ird, apparently of the same species, was seen in the neighbourhood, 

 ut escaped. 



This vulture does not congregate, except when an all-attractive 

 arcass calls them together, but goes in pairs, the male and female 

 eldom parting company. "In the districts which this species 



