406 



assert that the Golden Eagle has been mistaken in this instance for the present species, but think 

 that it is probable, as it is said to be not uncommon. An old male was shot at Gastein in 1843, 

 and is now in the St. Peter's collection at Salzburg. According to information received from the 

 forester Koralek, a pair nested in 1835 on the Styrian frontier, on the Bollberg, which reaches 

 an altitude of 7237 feet. The nest was placed in an inaccessible precipice, about two thirds up 

 the mountain, and contained two young. When the young birds were able to fly, they and the 

 old ones left the neighbourhood. The male and female which are in the Kremsmiinster col- 

 lection were shot at different times in the ravines of the Tiessenbach, at Scharnstein, in Upper 

 Austria. When the female was shot she was found to contain two eggs, and was accompanied 

 by another, probably her mate, which escaped. In the Imperial collection at Vienna are two 

 specimens, an adult and an immature male, from Styria, procured in 1809 by Von Wittmann- 

 statten. According to Von Hueber the Bearded Vulture was observed not uncommonly in the 

 mountains of Oberkamten ; but this statement requires confirmation. One, however, was pro- 

 cured some years ago on the Grevenze. In Siebenbiirgen alone of all parts of Austria it still 

 occurs, though rarely. According to Steller it inhabits there the Betyerzoit, in the Hatziger 

 valley ; and Kornhuber states that is not rare (?) from Harlagia and Kelemen to Buska, and 

 especially from Arpasch to Belyezat. Count Lazar obtained an old male in March 1861, which 

 was shot in the district of Vajdejer, near Broos, in the high land a few miles from the mountains. 

 In 1869 Hermann met with it several times in the eastern Alps of Siebenburgen, and he states 

 that a pair inhabited almost every mountain." 



It still inhabits the Caucasus, where, however, it is rare, as almost everywhere else. Our 

 friend Dr. Gustaf Eadde, who was lately in England, informs us that the bird found there is the 

 true G. barbatns ; and he brought with him a photograph of a young bird procured in the 

 Caucasus, and now in the Tiflis Museum. Von Nordmann also states that " it inhabits the high 

 mountains of the Caucasus, Elbrouz and Kazbeck, and wherever the chamois and wild goat are 

 found. In Abasia it is only found in the interior, near the summit of Mount Hirtscha, whence 

 it rarely descends to the plains." 



Dr. Kriiper met with it in Asia Minor ; and Canon Tristram writes respecting its occurrence 

 in Palestine as follows : — " Heads the list of Palestine Eaptorials. I do not think that we 

 accumulated any new facts respecting the economy of the Lammergeyer, though our observations 

 corroborated facts previously ascertained. Although looked upon as especially a mountain-bird, 

 ranging from the Pyrenees and Western Atlas to the Himalayas, and in all its habitats a constant 

 resident, it would seem to be the conformation of the mountains rather than the temperature 

 which attracts it ; for it may be found at all times of the year in the tremendous gorges which 

 flank the deep and sultry Jordan valley. Unlike the Vultures, it is always a solitary bird — 

 neither gregarious, as Gyps fulvus, nor sociable, as Neophron percnopterus. Yet, though never 

 consorting with its own species, it has no repugnance to the neighbourhood of others ; and as on 

 the Atlas, so in Palestine, its breeding-places are generally in the same cliffs with the colonies of 

 Griffons. It may occasionally be seen in all parts of Palestine. I first noticed it on the top of 

 Gerizim, sailing up the valley of Shechem. During the month of January we occasionally 

 descried it overhead at the edge of the deep gorges which open on to the Dead Sea ; in February 

 it passed over the desert plains of Beersheba ; and in March we had the pleasure of starting a 



