78 WANDERINGS OF A 



viduals described by Elippell, — "tarsis parte inferiore et 

 interna plumis devestita." The plumes are particularly ob- 

 vious in the Eastern bird, and project much backwards when 

 it is feeding. These minor discrepancies are perhaps owing to 

 climatic peculiarities, or the countries they frequent. The 

 size and weight of this species vary considerably : Bruce 

 mentions having killed one 22 lbs. ia weight ; but the heaviest 

 out of many adults shot by me on the Himalayas did not ex- 

 ceed 14 lbs., the average being 12 lbs. Bishop Heber says, 

 " One shot by Lieutenant Fisher near the Himalayas measured 

 13 feet between its extended wings." I have notes of many 

 killed at dififerent seasons of the year, none of which ap- 

 proached such dimensions — for instance the following : — "An 

 adult female kUled near Dugshai was 8 feet 2 inches between 

 the tips of the wings, and from biU to extremity of tail 3 feet 

 8 inches ; stomach contained a mass of bullock's hair, with 

 large bones of sheep and oxen. An adult male, shot in the 

 same ranges with the last, measured 9 feet between the tips 

 of wings, and 3 feet 9 inches in length. A fine adult female 

 had the greatest possible expansion of wings, 9 feet 2 inches ; 

 length, 3 feet 11 inches ; weight, 14 lbs. ; stomach contained 

 the hoof of an old ibex half-digested." 



The lammergeyer is easily distinguished from the other 

 vultures by its pointed wings and wedge-shaped tail The 

 young bird differs considerably from the adult, whose plumage 

 it does not fully attain until the third year. At first the 

 head, neck, and lower parts are black ; with a tinge of ash on 

 the back and beUy ; the eye is black, whUe the old bird has 

 the above parts an ochreous white, globe of the eye deep red 

 with a white iris and black pupil, which add considerably to 

 the boldness and majesty of his appearance. The eye is 



