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living there say that the numerous researches formerly made in the Adontscholon Mountains 

 after topazes and beryl have caused these shy birds to desert their breeding-places. Its range in 

 India is given by Dr. Jerdon as " the Himalayas, from Nepal to Cashmere, and also on the Salt 

 and Suliman ranges of the Punjab. We did not observe it at Darjeeling ; but it extends from 

 the skirt of the hills to the snowy range, and is not uncommon at Simla, Mussooree, and other 

 stations in the north-west Himalayas, and most numerous where there are convalescent depots of 

 European troops stationed, being attracted by the greater abundance of offal and refuse in such 

 places, which certainly form the chief part of the food of this Vulture. At Landour it is very 

 common, and quite fearless of man, often passing overhead within a few yards or alighting 

 on the ground not far from a road. Both in general structure and habits I consider Gypaetos 

 most nearly allied to Neophron ; and Mr. Hume, who agrees with me in this, tells me that he 

 has known it (like the Neophron) to feed on human ordure. In the interior of the hills it is said 

 at times to carry off Pheasants, Chukor Partridges, and occasionally young lambs ; and Mr. Brooks 

 mentions that a rabbit-yard at Almora was visited by one of these birds, and rabbit after rabbit 

 carried off. I much doubt the stories related of its pushing large animals over cliffs. I found 

 it in considerable numbers frequenting the cliffs on the south face of the Salt range of hills in 

 the Punjab, not far from Jhelum." 



Major Irby, in his notes on the birds of Oudh and Kumaon, writes that it is " common in 

 Kumaon, especially near Almorah and Nynee Tal, where it appears to feed almost exclusively 

 on carrion. All Europeans, not ornithologists, call it the ' Golden Eagle,' probably on account 

 of the reddish tinge on the breast, which is very apparent when the bird is on the wing." 

 Mr. Swinhoe writes that he saw a specimen in the Catholic Museum at Pekin, which was pro- 

 cured by Pere Armand David in the mountains west of that city. 



The Bearded Vulture is very solitary in its habits, inhabiting the higher ranges of the lofty 

 mountain-ranges. It has been looked on as a bold rapacious robber, and has been accused of 

 attacking chamois, goats, and even men; but many of these accounts are greatly exaggerated. 

 It partakes far more of the Vulture in its habits than of the Eagle, feeds on carrion and such 

 refuse as it can pick up, sometimes doubtless attacking weakly lambs, or catching mountain- 

 hares. There are, however, authentic records of its having attacked children, when impelled by 

 hunger. We translate the following anecdote from Naumann's ' Naturgeschichte der Vogel 

 Deutschlands,' which he states is well authenticated : — " Anna Zurbuchen, of Habchern, in Bern 

 Oberland, born in 1760, was taken out by her parents, when she was nearly three years old, 

 when they went to collect herbs. She fell asleep, and the father put his straw hat over her face 

 and went to his work. Shortly after when he returned with a bundle of hay the child was gone ; 

 and the parents and peasants sought her in vain. During this time Heinrich Michel, of 

 Unterseen, was going on a wild path to Wappesbach, and suddenly heard a child cry; he ran 

 towards the sound, and a Bearded Vulture rose, scared by him, from a mound and soared away 

 over the precipice. On the extreme edge of the latter, below which a stream roared, and over 

 whose edge any movement would have precipitated it, Michel found the child, which was 

 uninjured, except on the left arm and hand, where the bird had probably clutched it; its shoes, 

 stockings, and cap were gone. This occurred on the 12th of July, 1763. The place where 



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