LYING /.У AMBUSH. г\\ 



you should select the alpine belts of the mountains, 

 to which they are more readily attracted than to the 

 low valleys, where these cautious birds will some- 

 times absolutely refuse your bait, if any human habi- 

 tations be near. 



The sport is full of interest. Hardly have you 

 seated yourself before the kites fly down and wheel 

 in long low circles round the meat, but their suspi- 

 cions are aroused and they take their departure. 

 The next to appear are magpies and crows, cawing 

 and hopping round the dainty morsels, without ven- 

 turing to touch them. At last one bolder than the 

 others seizes a piece of the meat, but, frightened at 

 his own temerity, drops it again and retires. But 

 the ice once broken, others soon follow suit. Here 

 comes a raven who has been watching the proceed- 

 ings from a short distance, and now with waddling 

 gait approaches the carrion, and pauses a minute or 

 two before thrusting his beak in and swallowing a 

 morsel. Then magpies fall to ; the kites, plucking 

 up courage, descend from all sides, and the feast 

 begins in earnest ; such noise, such fighting and 

 screeching ! 



All this time you remain perfectly still in your 

 place of concealment, impatiently watching the ex- 

 pected arrival of the prize you covet. But hark ! 

 what is that rustling noise '^. a lammergeier has 

 descended. Yes ! it is indeed that handsome bird 

 which, after wheeling a few times round the exposed 

 meat, perches on yonder ledge. But where are the 

 vultures ? Perhaps they have by this time espied 



VUL. И. R 



