3o8 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



pointed straight at the bird's breast. Then with a dexterous 

 movement of his foot he cocked and fired it, and his fierce 

 assailant slid down the rocks, dead. 



Some scientists, as I have already mentioned, disbelieve 

 the stories of Lammergeiers carrying off babies. But there 

 are well-authenticated instances, recorded by Tschudi, the 

 naturalist of the Alps. Here are a few, and with these I 

 must bring this chapter to a close. 



In the year 1854 there was living in the canton of Uri 

 a Swiss woman who, when a baby, had been carried off by 

 a Lammergeier, and rescued. At Hundwyl, in the canton 

 of Appenzell, a child was carried off within sight of its 

 parents. A little herd boy was sitting one day on a 

 high rock, on the Silberalp, idly watching his sheep, when 

 without a moment's warning great wings swept down upon 

 him, and sent him hurtling over the brink. Some shepherds, 

 horrified at the boy's danger, had vainly tried to scare the 

 Vulture away with their shouts. The bird of prey was not 

 to be so easily daunted, and made sure of his victim before 

 help could reach him. 



This, by the bye, is a favourite trick, both of Vultures 

 and Eagles. The precipice-edge, they well know, is a 

 place where anything that cannot fly may be taken at a 

 disadvantage. Then is their golden opportunity. 



Two more instances, and I have done. At Murren, a 

 place now well known to all tourists in Switzerland, a 

 Vulture once carried away a baby to a high rock opposite 

 the village. The spot was quite beyond the reach of any 

 climber, and the onlookers had the horror of watching the 

 bird settle down to its dreadful feast. Pieces of the poor 

 little child's red frock lay about the rock for some time 

 after. 



The second story is exciting but not sad or terrible. 



