167 



next minute is seen perched on the jutting rock beside liim. Such, 

 then, arc the usual appearances observed immediatelj after thedeatb 

 of a large animal; and the hunter wonders whence all these big 

 Vultures and Carrion Crows hare come: but if', immediately after 



his ooble Ibex has rolled down the crag, he directs big eyes hea- 

 venward, he will observe ('anion Crows and Vultures ai various 

 distances and elevations Bailing leisurely about , and rery probably 

 the one nearest to him, observing the death of hit quarry, instantly 



commences to descend; then one follows the other, until the valley 

 resounds with the hoarse croakings of the Crows, and the air seems 

 alive with them. It is surprising the numbers that arc sometimes 

 observed to congregate on these occasions ; I have seen no less than 

 sixty Vultures and Crows on and around the carcase of a hear. 



1. Gypaetus barbatus (Linnaeus). 

 Bearded Vulture. 



"Greed" of the Cashmerees, but generally applied to all the spe- 

 cies. 



Among all the grandeur and beauty of the Himalayas I know few 

 sights more attractive to the naturalist than to behold the Vultures 

 and rapacious birds soaring over the vast ravines and around the tops 

 of the mighty mountains in the clear blue sky of a July afternoon, — 

 the setting sun casting his last rays on the distant snow-clad moun- 

 tains, the epiiet evening broken only by the cry of the eagle, the 

 bleat of the goat, or the shrill pipe of the Black Partridge. There is 

 to be seen the Bearded Vulture (the Indian, Bengal, and Egyptian 

 species) and kites and eagles wheeling in vast circles around the sum- 

 mits of the towering mountains as if it were all in one medley ; but 

 more conspicuous than the others is seen the immense Bearded 

 Vulture. 



It frequents the Western Himalayas to very high elevations, and is 

 found likewise on the Salt and Suliman Ranges of the Punjab. I 

 have Been a solitary bird at Peshawui ; hut it is seldom seen on the 

 plains of India, and when at all, close to the mountains. The Bearded 

 Vulture docs not strictlv confine itself to live animals; for on the 

 hill stations at daybreak, among the first Camp-SCavengerS, it IS Been 

 sailing leisurely along the mountain-sides in search 01 otlal and re- 

 fuse. Bowever, it would appear, circumstance- change to a great 

 degree the babits of many rapacious birds; and although this pecies 



is a foul feeder in camp, in the solitude of bis oative m itams be 



hunts with great boldness and intrepidity. The Brown Eagle 

 (.tijuilii ruevia) of the Himalayas, in form perhaps the most typical 

 of its family, I have seen frequently feeding on carrion and refuse. 

 Vet, with all, the Lammergeier is a noble-looking bird, either when 

 feeding in camp or hunting for prey on the more distant mountains. 

 When thus employed, he tiics low, keeping within a feu yards of the 



ground, and describes circle- on the mountain-side until he 



beaten it from top to bottom. The Bearded Vulture i- easily distin- 

 guished on wing from any other Species by the Ion- -harp-pointed 



wings and tail. There arc two varieties of plumage -that of the 



