16 BE.LRDED VULTURE. 
vacant. This, however, is the only place I know ol where they con- 
gregate in such numbers to roost, though all the day long they may 
seen about the station, singly, in pairs, or fives and sixes." 
Tschudi, "Sketches of the Higher Alps," writes: — 
"In earlier times this giant among European birds of prey inhabited 
all the districts of our higher Alps; but it has now greatly diminished 
in numbers, building permanent nests only in the mountains of Tessin, 
the Grisons, the Vallais, Uri, and Berne. On the other mountains its 
appearance is rare, and in most cases solitary. The last seen in TJn- 
terwalden was shot on the Abzeller mountain, on September 24th., 1851, 
by Michael Sigrist. An old Vulture was for many years observed to 
perch regularly, at certain seasons, on a hugh block of stone in Grin- 
delwald Glacier. The position was quite inaccessible, and beyond the 
reach of rifle-shot. 
The internal structure of the Lammergeyer is very peculiar: the 
muscles of the breast are of extraordinary size and strength; the long 
bones hollow as with other birds, become filled by the action of the 
lungs with air, warmer, and therefore specifically lighter than the sur- 
rounding atmosphere, and the bird is thus enabled to soar high into 
the air without any great exertion. The vigour of its digestive organs 
is most curious. The gastric juice in a short time decomposes the 
largest bones and the horny hoofs of cows or calves, continuing its 
operations even after the death of the animal. 
The contents of the stomachs of Lammergeyers which have been 
opened after death, have created no little astonishment, and surpass 
all that has ever been related of the voracity and digestive powers of 
smaller European birds of prey. One contained five bullock's ribs, 
two inches thick, and from six to nine inches long, a lump of hair, and 
the leg of a young goat, from the knee to the foot. 
Its habits when at liberty have not been suificiently observed as yet. 
Small game, such as foxes, lambs, or marmots, it will pounce down upon 
direct and carry them off. Larger animals it endeavours to drive over 
precipices, and occasionally it will try this with huntsmen who are in 
dangerous positions, and who have declared that the noise, together 
with the strength and rapid motion of the enormous wings, have exerted 
a certain magical and almost irresistible influence over them. The 
Lammergeyer is not always successful in securing its prey. Near the 
so-called " dragon hole," not far from Alpnach, a Vulture seized upon 
a live fox, and carried it off into the air. The fox, however, stretching 
out his head, succeeded in seizing his captor by the throat, and biting 
him through. The Vulture fell dead to the earth, and revnard went 
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