292 RAPTORES. 



Vultures under subjection, and " does not suffer them to approach 

 a dead body until he has completely satisfied his own appetite, 

 which is certainly none of the smallest." This Vulture is a 

 native of South America ; near the central portions of which it 

 is abundant, and it is occasionally seen in Florida, U. S. 



Gypaetus. (Gr. gups, a vulture ; aetos, an eagle.) The 

 birds of this genus, are included by Gmelin, under the genus 

 Falco. On the Chart, these are accordingly arranged with the 

 Falconida, but they perhaps approach most nearly to the Vul- 

 tures in habits and conformation, and we have thought best to 

 place them with the Vulture Family, as is done by Prince Buona- 

 parte and Mr. Gray. They have the weaker talons of the 

 True or Griffon Vultures; the head and neck, however, are 

 feathered, like the Eagles, and they reject putrid matter unless 

 hard pressed by hunger. 



THE LAMMERGEYER, (German, Lamtfs Eagle,) or BEARDED 

 VULTURE, G. barbatus, (Lat. bearded,) is a celebrated bird, not, 

 however, strictly a true Vulture, as its head and neck are feath- 

 ered, and it rejects putrid flesh, except when pressed with hunger. 



The term bearded is applied to this bird on account of the long 

 tuft of hairs with which each nostril is clothed. It destroys 

 hares, and young or sickly sheep and goats ; when emboldened 

 by hunger, it does not fear even to attack man himself. The 

 young Chamois, the Mountain Hare, and various kinds of birds 

 fall victims to its appetite. The head and neck of this Vulture, 

 are a dirty white ; the lower parts of the neck, breast, and belly, 

 orange red ; the back, and wing-coverts, deep gray brown. The 

 Bearded Vulture, the largest bird of Europe, is a little more than 

 four and a half feet in length; the expansion of its wings is from 

 nine to ten feet. This Vulture inhabits the highest mountains of 

 Europe and Asia, and is also found in the lofty mountains of 

 Central Africa. 



THE SECRETARY- VULTURE, or SERPENT-EATER, Gypogeranus. 

 (Gr. gups, a vulture ; geranos, a bird,) has, in regard to its true 

 position, been a puzzle to naturalists. This very remarkable 

 bird has long legs like a wading bird, but, in other respects, 

 seems to rank between the Vulture and the Eagle. It feeds 

 exclusively upon reptiles and serpents. A pendent crest appears 

 on the back of the head, reminding the beholder of the pen stuck 

 behind the ear by writing clerks, hence, the name " Secretary." 

 It chiefly inhabits the arid plains in the neighborhood of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. Attempts have been ma.de to introduce 

 this bird into the Antilles with a view to diminish the Yellow 

 Serpent, Trigonocephalus, (triangular-head,) which is six or seven 

 feet long, poisonous, and in those islands, very abundant. 



