BIRDS. 
THE most conspicuous external characteristic by which the Birps are 
distinguished from 
all other inhabit- 
ants of earth is the 
feathery robe which 
invests their bodies, 
and which serves 
the double purpose 
of clothing and pro- 
gression. 
The fuller and 
more technical de- 
scription of the 
Birds runs as fol- 
lows : They are ver- 
tebrate animals, but 
do not suckle their 
young. The young 
are not produced in 
an actively animat- 
ed state, but in- 
closed in the egg, 
from which they do 
not emerge until 
they have been 
warmed into inde- 
pendent life by the 
effects of constant 
warmth. Generally, 
the eggs are hatched 
by means of the na- 
tural warmth which 
proceeds from the 
mother bird; but 
in some instances, 
such as that of the 
Tallegalla of Aus- 
tralia, the eggs are 
placed in a vast 
heap of dead leaves 
and grass, and de- 
veloped by means 
of the heat which 
is exhaled from 
decaying vegetable 
substances. 
LAMMERGEYER.—(Gyfaetos barbatus.) 
BIRDS OF PREY.—VULTURES. 
By common consent VULTURES take the first rank among Birds, and in 
the catalogue of the British Museum the LAMMERGEYER, or BEARDED 
VULTURE, stands first upon the list. 
