320 FALCONID^E GYPAETUS 



in search of which it often wanders to a considerable distance from 

 water. 



The example obtained by Ayres, which must have been a strayed 

 bird, was shot when perched on a willow, tree in the village of 

 Potchefstroom ; its stomach was empty. 



Genus XII. GYPAETUS. 



Type. 

 Gypaetus, Storr, Alpenreise, i, p. 69 (1784) ............ G. barbatus. 



Bill high, compressed ; culmen rounded throughout and hooked ; 

 basal half of the bill, including the nostrils, which are longitudinal 

 ovals, entirely covered with coarse black bristles ; a tuft of similar 

 bristles on the chin ; wings very long and powerful ; tail also long 

 and strong, wedge-shaped and pointed, the difference in length 

 between the inner and outer feathers about equal to the length of 

 the tarsus ; tarsus feathered to the toes or to within an inch of 

 them ; claws moderate, curved, and blunt. 



This genus is found in the mountain ranges of southern Europe, 

 central Asia and Africa. 



Only two species are recognised, the one here described and the 

 true Lammergeyer of Switzerland, which is distinguished by its 

 completely feathered tarsus and black-streaked cheeks. 



527. Gypaetus OSSifragus. Southern Lammergeyer. 



Phene ossifraga, Savign. Syst. Ois. d'Egypte, p. 245 (1809). 



Gypaetus barbatus (nee Linn.), Smith, S. A. Quart. Jouru. i, p. 105 



(1830). 



Gypaetus meridionalis, Keys, and Bias. Wirb. Europ. p. 28 (1840) ; 

 Eilpp. Syst. Uebcrs. p. 9, pi. 1 (1845) ; Gurney, Dcscript. Cat. Rapt. 



Birds, p. 87 (1861) ; id. Ibis, 1864, p. 346 [Natal] ; Layard, B. S. 



Afr. p. 2 (1867); Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 147; Brudcn, Kloof ami 



Karoo, p. 147 (1889) ; Eeichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 601 (1901). 

 Gypaetus ossifragus, Sliarpe, Cat. B. M. i, p. 230 (1874) ; id. ed. 



'Layard' s B. S. Afr. pp. 32, 797 (1875-84) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 148 



(1896) ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 145 (1899). 

 "Arend " (i.e., eagle) or " Lammervanger " of the Dutch; "Ukozi," 



"Olukulu" (also applied to other large eagles) of the Amaxosa 



(Stanford). 



Description. Adult male. Crown and centre of the head white 

 becoming tawny on the occiput and rufous on the neck; patch 



