204 THE TOWER MENAGERIE. 
vertical thickness, more especially at the point where 
the curvature commences. His head, flat like that of 
the Eagle, is covered with short feathers, which are of a 
dirty white; and his eyes are nearly on the same plane 
with the surface of his head. The general tint of his 
plumage is blackish brown above and grayish fawn be- 
neath, and his legs are feathered with the latter colour 
down to the very toes, which are long and grayish. His 
claws are of moderate length and curved; but the force 
of his clutch is far inferior to that of the Eagles. 
The Bearded Griffin is the largest Kuropean bird of 
prey, and builds its aiery among the loftiest precipices 
of nearly all the alpine chains of the Old Continent. 
Here it displays the tyranny, but not the courage, of 
‘the Eagle, attacking such living animals only as are 
likely to fall an easy prey, and gorging in troops with 
all the rapacity of Vultures upon the most corrupted 
carrion. 
The individual figured is a fine specimen, but is not 
yet in perfect plumage. 
