454 Description of the [Aug. 



kindness for the specimen figured. It is a perfectly distinct species, and 

 may easily be recognised by its form, its pellucidness, and its smooth olive- 

 coloured epidermis. It somewhat resembles a young Anodonta on the 

 exterior, but the elevated lamelliform teeth easily distinguish it from that 

 genus. Its resemblance to a Spanish olive is very striking." 



Note. — This shell, which Lieutenant Hutton, (vol. iii. J. A. S.) 

 refers with doubt to the young of U. marginalia* , from which it is 

 perfectly distinct, is abundant in the shallow pools left on the sands 

 of the Jumna and Ganges after their periodical rise. I have never 

 met with a larger specimen thaa that figured by Mr. Lea. The 

 colour of the epidermis varies from a pale clear green to a pale brown. 



In concluding these notes on Mr. Lea's interesting descriptions, I 

 may observe, that the Asiatic Society is indebted to him for a series 

 of American fresh-water shells, chiefly Uniones, of which a list was 

 published in the J. A. S. vol. i. and for a copy of his Observations on 

 the genus Unio, printed in 1829. — W. H. B. 



IV.' — Description of the Bearded Vulture of the Himalaya. By 

 B. H. Hodgson, Esq. Resident in Nipal. 



Ordo Raptores — Fara. Vulturim:. 



Genus Gypaetos. 



Rostrum rectum ; basi plumis setaceis autrorsum directis tectum; suprd, 

 rotundatum ; mandibula inferior, basi fasciculo, plumis rigidis elongatisque 

 vrnata ; cera plumis tecta ; tarsi breves, plumosi. 



Species — Barbatus, Lin. 



Synonyma. — Vultur barbatus, necnon barbarus, Lin. Vultur aureus, 

 Gesner. Nisser or Golden Eagle, Bruce. Bearded Vulture, Edwards. 

 hammer Geyer of the Swiss, Shaw. Father Long-beard of the 

 Arabs of Egypt, Bruce. The Bearded Vulture of the Himalaya, 

 so familiar a tenant of the western portion cf these mountains, nor 

 yet unknown to, though much less common in, the eastern or Nipalese 

 division of them, seems to have escaped the research of Hardwicke, 

 and of Gould's contributors. There is no delineation of it in either 

 the Century of the latter, or in the Illustrations of the former gentle- 

 man. It has also escaped the active and enlightened inquiries of 

 the Zoological Journal, notwithstanding the startling, and, I fancy, 

 exaggerated, notice of it contained in Heber's popular narrative. On 

 these grounds, I am induced to forward to the Asiatic Society a draw- 



* Lieutenant Hutton asks if it can be the young of his Unio, No. 18, r of 

 which the specimens deposited in the Museum Asiatic Society are U. margina- 

 lis. — Lamarck. 



