DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 207 



is very common in the Alps of Switzerland, and Germany, where, 

 from its depredations on the kids and lambs, it has earned it^ 

 name of Lammergeyer. Although called the " Bearded " Vulture, 

 it is not strictly a vulture, as its 

 head and neck are feathered, and 

 it rejects putrid flesh, unless Lard 

 pressed by hunger. It destroys 

 hares, and young or sickly sheep ' 

 and goats, nor, when rendered 

 fierce by hunger, does it fear to 

 attack the adult chamois, or even 

 man. It is said to destroy the Bearded Vulture, 



larger animals by watching until 



they are near the brink of a precipice, and then suddenly driving 

 them over the rocks by an unexpected swoop. In this manner 

 the strong and swift chamois falls a victim to the craft of its 

 winged foe, and instances are not wanting where the chamois 

 hunter himself has been struck from a narrow ridge into the valley 

 beneath by a blow from this ferocious bird. It is exceedingly 

 bold, and shows but little fear of man. While Bruce was pre- 

 paring his dinner on the summit of a mountain, one of these birds, 

 after scalding its feet in several unavailing attempts to extract 

 some meat out of the boiling water, actually seized a piece from a 

 platter, and went oflF with it. The name of "Bearded" Vulture 

 is given to it on account of the long tuft of hairs with which each 

 nostril is clothed. The length of its body is about four feet, and 

 the expanse of its wings from nine to ten. 



The King Vulture, which is found among the Andes in 

 South America, is a bird about the size of the turkey-cock, 

 chiefly remarkable for the odd formation of the skin of the head 

 and neck, which is bare. The skin arises from the base of the 

 bill, and is of an orange color ; from whence it stretches on each 

 side of the head ; from thence it proceeds, like an indented comb, 

 and falls on either side, according to the motion of the head. The 

 eyes are surrounded by a red skin, of a scarlet color ; and the iris 

 has the color and lustre of pearl. The head and neck are without 



