THE VULTURE. 





Lammergeyer, or Bearded Vulture. 



The birds of the Vulture family are, on the whole, perhaps, the largest of the predacious birds ; but they 

 are not the most courageous, they are most abundant in hot climates, where they perform important 

 services in clearing away putrid animal matter, upon which they chiefly feed. 



The Lammergeyer, or Bearded Vulture, is very common in the Alps of Switzerland and Germany, where, 

 from its depredations on the kids and lambs, it has earned its name of Lammergeyer, or Lambs' Eagle. Its 

 habitation is the loftiest mountains, and there are tales of its having descended upon the unfortunate 

 chamois hunter with such irresistible force, as to dash him from the glacier precipice into the gulf below. 

 The belief is current in the Alpine regions, that it has carried off children to feed its young; nor does this 

 seem to be entirely groundless. The" color of the upper part is of a greyish-brown, the under parts white 

 with an orange shade. Its head is feathered, and it has a beard of strong hair, whence it derives its name. 

 (197) 17* 



