240 



The Lammekgevek.- 



-BIRDS,- 



-The Condor. 



oflal of the beasts slaughtered, or on the carcasses of the 

 camels wliich die by the way. In India tlie bird seems 

 to have exactly the same habits ; and Colonel Sykes 

 states that they are always found in cantonments and 

 camps. They pass nearly tlie whole day on the wing, 

 sailing roimd in circles. Their efficiency as scavengers 

 is also recognized in India. 



THE LAMMERGEYER {Gypaetos barbatus)—7lsite 2, 

 fig. 4 — which is also frequently called the Bearded 

 Vulture, is a remarkable species of this family, forming, 

 both in its characters and habits so striking a transi- 

 tion towards the eagles, that it has even been arranged 

 with the latter by some natinalists, whilst others have 

 constituted a distinct family for its reception. As, 

 however, its most important characters are decidedly 

 vulturine, we have preferred placing it at the end of 

 the eastern vultiues. 



The principal distinctive characters of the genus 

 Gijpaetos, to which the Lammergeyer belongs, consist 

 in the strong, compressed, and greatly-hooked beak, in 

 the presence of a singular beard-like tuft of stiff bristles 

 under the lower mandible, and of a patch of similar 

 bristles, covering the base of the upper mandible on 

 each side, and concealing both the cere and the oval 

 obhque nostrils which are pierced in it. The tarsi are 

 short and clothed with feathers ; and the claws are 

 sti'onger and more cmved than in the other vultures. 

 The head and neck are entirely clothed witli feathers. 



The Liimmergeyer is one of the largest birds of 

 prey, attaining a length of about four feet, and mea- 

 suring nine or ten feet in expanse of wing. Individuals 

 have been described exceeding even these dimensions, 

 and measuring from twelve to fifteen feet from tip to 

 tip of the wings. The plumage of the upper part of 

 the body is of a dull brown colour, mixed with grey; 

 the wings and tail are of a greyish tint; the neck, 

 breast, and belly are whitish, more or less tinged witli 

 yellow or orange ; and the head is dirty white, with a 

 black band on each side. The bristles of the beard 

 and face are also black, as are the claws. These are 

 the general characters of the species ; but they are 

 liable to some variation in specimens from dilferent 

 regions, and these have induced several modem ornitho- 

 logists to describe three or four species of these birds. 

 The distinctions of size and colour upon wliich they 

 rely for the discrimination of these so-called species, 

 are, however, very slight, and may probably be due 

 to geographical circumstances ; we tlierefore prefer 

 regarding all tlie northern Lammergeyers at any rate, 

 as belonging to one species. 



This fine bird inhabitants tlie mountainous regions 

 of Southern Europe and North Africa, and extends its 

 range in Asia to the Caucasus, the Altai mountains, and 

 the Himalayas. In its caiTiage and aspect it gi'eatly 

 resembles the eagles, as it does also in its habits; for, 

 unlike tlie preceding ^adturcs, it evuices no liking for 

 carrion, but, on the contraiy, prefers its meat fresh- 

 killed. To satisfy this craving, it is endowed \vitli a 

 far more audacious and warlike disposition than the 

 peaceful birds whose characters we have hitherto been 

 considering, and the weapons witli which nature has 

 armed it are also of a far more formidable character. 

 It feeds principally upon quadrupeds, such as rabbits, 



hares, sheep, lambs, and kids, which its powerful beak 

 and talons enable it to overcome easily ; and its Swiss 

 name of Lammergeyer (signifying Lamb-Vulture), suf- 

 ficiently expresses tlie sense which tlie Alpine shep- 

 herds entertain of its predilection for the tenderer part 

 of their flocks. It is also said sometimes to attack the 

 chamois, or even man himself; but when attempting 

 any such doubtful enterprise as this, it waits until its 

 intended victim is close to a precipice, and then de- 

 scending upon it with irresistible velocity, sweeps it oft' 

 into the abyss below. Both in Europe and India 

 stories are cun-ent of chddi'en being carried oft' by tlie 

 Liimmergeyer ; but these want confirmation. In tlie 

 latter country, according to Mr. Hodgson, the habits i.f 

 the birds approach more nearly to those of the ordinary 

 vultures than appears to be the case in Em-ope ; and 

 they come in flocks to devour carrion of all sorts, -with- 

 out tlie least regard to the presence of man. The same 

 gentleman tells us tliat, in the vicinity of Simla and 

 elsewhere on the western hflls, the flesh-pots, in whicli 

 cooking is carried on in the open air, require to be well 

 watched, lest the Bearded vulture steal a share of their 

 contents ; and Bruce, in his " Travels in Abyssinia," 

 relates a story of tliis nature which applies either to tliis 

 or the foUo-wing species. 



The Bearded vulture builds no nest, but deposits 

 its eggs upon the bare rock ; these are two or three in 

 number, of an oval form with one end rather acute ; 

 their colour is a bluish-white, covered with smaller and 

 larger spots of reddish-brown and ochreous yellow. 



THE APRICAN BEARDED TULTTIRE [Gypuetus 

 imdipes) appears to merit being regarded as a distinct 

 species, as tlie lower part of its tarsi is bare of feathers, 

 a character of more importance than a slight diversity 

 of colour. It is found in Abyssinia, and in the more 

 southern parts of Africa. This is probably the bird 

 alluded to by Bruce, which, he says, is called A'l'sso- 

 Werlc in Ethiopio, and Ahoti Dueliir or Father Long- 

 beard by the Arabs. Bruce gives the foUowuig account 

 of the audacity of this bird. WhUe his servants M-ere 

 eating their dinner ui the open air on the top of a high 

 mountain, ■v\-itli several dishes of boiled goats' flesh 

 before them, one of these birds suddenly made his 

 appearance. He did not stoop rapidly from a height, 

 but came flying slowly along the gi-oimd, and sat down 

 close to the meat, -(Wtliin the i-ing the men liad r-ade 

 romid it. A gi-eat shout was raised, wlien the bird 

 slowly retired ; but he soon came up again, and was 

 shot within a short distance of the party. Dr. Roth 

 says, that the Abyssinian species " smells di-eadfull}' 

 from its mode of liraig," and " takes a great quantity 

 of water." 



THE CONDOR {Sarcorhamphiis Gryphus)—^g. 97, 

 page 241. — The first of the American vultures to which 

 we shall allude, is one of the most remarkable and Cele- 

 brated species of this family. The nostrils in the Ameri- 

 can -vidtures are pierced tlirough, as has already been 

 stated, from side to side of the beak. In the Condor 

 and another species belonging to the same genus, they 

 are surmomited in the males b}' a large fleshy car- 

 uncle, which, in the former, constitutes a comb some- 

 what resembhng that of a cock. The bUl in these 

 birds is very strong, and much hooked at the extremity. 



