t2 VULTURE. 



7. Vultur percnopterus, Lin.fyft.x. p. 123. 



ALPINE L e Percnoptere, Buf. oif. i. p. 149. 



— — PL enl. 426. 



Le Vautour des Alpes, Brif. orn. i. p, 464. N° 8. 

 Percnopteros feu Gypaetos, Raii./yn. p. 8. 

 Vulterine Eagle of Aldrovand, Will, orn, p. 64, t. 4. 



Description. 'T'HE male, according to LinnauSy is wholly white; the quills, 

 black, with hoary edges, except the two outer ones, which 

 are wholly black. The female is all over brown, with four of 

 the outer quills black. The bills in both black : cere yellow : 

 noftrils perpetually dripping moifture. The feet naked. 

 Manners. They are faid to fly in large troops, and are very ufeful in de- 



ftroying mice, which are numberlefs in Palefiine. To this we 

 may add the fize, which Brijfon fays rather exceeds that of a 

 common Eagle, and indeed we may fay much larger, as M. Fortis*_ 

 furnifhes a note to that purport. 



* After faying, he meafured one himfelf, which was above twelve feet from tip 

 to tip of the wing, he adds, " The extraordinary bulk of the Vultures of thofe- 

 parts is not to be wondered at, nor the truth of this fail called in queftion. 

 The Vultures of the Sivi/s mountains are of the fame race, and not only carry 

 off kids, lambs, wild goats, and children, but will alfo attack grown up men. 

 The fpecies is called Vautour des Alpes, and it is particularly defcribed by old 

 Cenrad Gefner, though unaccountably neglected by moft other ornithologifts* 

 A well-ftuffed fpecimen of this noble bird may be feen in the curious collection, 

 of the Reverend Mr. Sprftnglif near Bern in Switxerland." Travels into Dal- 

 vsatia, p. 245. 



Vautoni' 



