28 FALCONID/E. 



25. GypsetUS bar bat US, Storr. Alpenreisse, p. 69 ; Jerd. B. of 2nd. 

 p. 13; Hume, Rough Notes, vol. i. p. 35 ; Murray, HdVk. Zocl., fyc., Sind, 

 p. 105; id. Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 64. Falco barbatus, Gm. S. N. vol. i. p. 252. 

 Gypaetus hemalachanus, Button, Jour. As. Soc. Ben. vol. vii. p. 22. Gypsetus 

 orientalis, Blyth, Ibis, 1863. The BEARDED VULTURE or LAMMERGEYER. 



Adult. Above black, a few brown feathers on the rump; quills brown, 

 externally washed with ashy, the secondaries with ochreous brown, the shafts 

 of all the feathers white, feathers of the back also white shafted, tinged with 

 buffy, especially on the wing coverts. Head white, with dark streaks ; nape 

 feathers lanceolate, elongate, tinged with bright tawny ; cheek stripe and 

 supercilium black ; bristles over the nostrils and tuft of hairs under the chin 

 black. Entire lower parts rich tawny, dull orange, or ferruginous ; a dark 

 pectoral collar (not always present) more or less distinct. Under wing coverts 

 dark brown with pale shaft streaks. Bill bluish horn, the tip darker; feet 

 plumbeous ; iris pale orange ; sclerotic membrane blood red. 



Length. 45 to 46 inches; expanse 108 to 112; wing 29*5; tail 20 ; 

 tarsus 4 ; culmen 3-7. 



Hab. The highest mountains of Europe, Asia, and Africa,, principally the 

 the most inaccessible parts ; also the Himalayas from Nepal to Cashmere, 

 and the Salt and Sooliman Ranges ; not uncommon in the Bolan (Beloo- 

 chistan) and South Afghanistan. 



The Lammergeyer is not common in any part of Sind, except the northern 

 country, at and beyond Jacobabad, affecting the hilly districts. Whether it is 

 a permanent resident of those parts or only a winter visitant, is not known. Mr. 

 Hume, in his contributions to the Ornithology of India, &c., in Stray Feathers 

 states that he observed it on two occasions in the hills dividing Sind from 

 Khelat. Dr. Day observed it in Durryah, and it is said to be well known to 

 sportsmen who have shot ibex in those ranges. 



It does not possess the carrion-eating propensities of the other vultures, but 

 kills its own game, comprising ibex, hares, &c. 



Breeds in the Himalayas during December, January, and part of 

 February. The nest is a large heap of sticks about 3x5 feet, lined with hair, 

 rags, feathers and bones and commonly placed in almost inaccessible situa- 

 tions. Captain Cock took a nest in December 1868, two marches from Rawul- 

 pindee on the Peshawur side. There were two eggs in it which Mr. Hume 

 says are excessively like one of the common types of the eggs of Neophron 

 ginginianus, but much larger, a rather broad oval, somewhat pointed towards 

 one end. Texture coarse, but the shell more compact and less chalky than 

 those of the Neophrons. In colour a nearly uniform pale salmon buff, 

 here and there mottled paler. They measure 3*43 to 3*05x2-68 to 2*52 

 inches. 



