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CHAPTEB XXVL 

 THE HOME OF THE LAMMERGEYER. 



Since the time of those earHer efforts to scrape an 

 acquaintance with the Lammergeyer (some of which 

 form the subject of the last chapter), we have at length 

 enjoyed opportunities of observing this grand bird in its 

 true home, and here add a short summary of these later 

 experiences. 



Broadly speaking, this bird may be said to exist in 

 all the higher mountain regions of Spain ; but, as 

 a rule, in small and decreasing numbers. In the north, 

 there are eyries in Guipuzcoa and Navarre, one or two 

 within sight of the French frontier ; others in the Cor- 

 dilleras of Leon and the Asturias— the magnificent gorge 

 known as the Desfiladero de la Deva, being an imme- 

 morial haunt. We have observed them in the great 

 central sierras of Castile, and they are known (but prob- 

 ably do not breed) in the Guadarrama range, within 

 sight of Madrid. Nowhere common, there are j^et more 

 sporadic pairs to be seen sweeping low on the steep brown 

 mountain-sides of certain Andalucian and Estremenian 

 sierras than anywhere else in Spain. Here, however, as 

 elsewhere, their numbers are being yearly reduced by the 

 deadly poison laid by hill-farmers for wolves, and, in some 

 cases, expressly for the Lammergeyer itself ; for, rightly or 

 wrongly, the great bird bears an ill-repute, and being, 

 moreover, during the breeding-season, of confiding dis- 

 position — more so than eagle or vulture — is easily- killed 

 at the nest. 



The Gypaetus, like the noble eagles, is essentially a 

 solitary bird, each pair (they remain paired for life) re- 



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