AVES. 297 



feathers. Truthful to the instinct of cleanliness, however, which appears to 

 prevail amongst all animals, vultures are said frequently to wash themselves 

 thoroughly. 



Vultur monachus, Linn., is the European species ; in addition to which 

 there are of this sub-family two African and one Asiatic species {Vultur 

 ponticei-imius, Lath.), well known as one of the Indian vultures. Little or 

 nothing is reported concerning them other than the general habits of the 

 family. 



^uh-fam. 2. Gypinm or f^rrffin Vultures. Bill lengthened, compressed, 

 hooked, and very sharp. Wings long and powerful ; tarsi moderate, very 

 strong ; tail rather long, rounded. Head more or less covered with hairs, more 

 so than in the preceding. Size large ; colors mostly fulvous. 



This sub-family is composed of species which appear to be analogous to the 

 more savage types of rapacious animals. 



One species, Gyps fulvus, Linn. {pi. 104, Jig. 9), inhabits Europe and is 

 supposed to be common to Asia and Africa : it is popularly called the Tawny 

 Vulture or Griffin, and by the latter name appears to have been known to the 

 ancients. There are about four other species inhabiting Asia and Africa, the 

 most remarkable of which are the Bengal Vulture and the Indian Vulture, 

 which are in many places common features of Indian scenery and remarkable 

 for their numbers and voracity. 



Suh-fam. 3. GypaetincB or bearded J^ultures. Head and neck completely 

 clothed. Bill strong, long, elevated towards the end, which is hooked. A well 

 defined beard, or bunch of stiff hair-like bristles directed forwards from be- 

 neath the lower mandible, is the peculiar character of this sub-family amongst 

 rapacious birds. Legs short, middle toe long. Wings and tail long, the 

 former pointed and very powerful. 



The bearded Vultures, with most of the characters of their family, have also 

 the swiftness of flight of the Falcons, to which they have been attached by 

 some ornithologists. This sub-family is composed of a single genus. Gypae- 

 tos, of which the principal species is the Gypaetos harhatus (Linn.), the 

 Bearded Vulture or Ldinmergeyer of the Alps. It derives its English name 

 from the stiff beard-like tuft which characterizes the genus, and is much 

 dreaded in some mountainous districts of Europe on account of its preying 

 upon lambs and other young and feeble animals, added to which it has the tra- 

 ditionary reputation of being disposed to carry off young children when left 

 unprotected within range of its keen sight. The latter, however, is not well 

 established, and the form of its talons, which are weak as in all the Vultures, 

 tends to throw further doubt on the subject ; though, if very hungry, we would 

 not trust him. 



The same species is supposed to inhabit all the high mountain ranges of the 

 old continent, but the birds inhabiting those of both Asia and Africa are repre- 

 sented by competent naturalists as different species, which is probably the 

 case. If so, there are three species of the bearded vultures. 



Suh-fam. 4. NeophrincB or slender-hilled Vultures. Bill much leiigthened 

 and slender. Nostrils longitudinal, nearly medial ; cere extended ; face and 

 part of the neck only naked. Size smaller than the preceding. 



501 



