VULTURE. 37 



extended ; is not unfi'equently about Ghilan in Persia, where it preys 

 not only on sheep, but calves; very common in Tyrol and the Switzer- 

 land Alps, and the terror of the inhabitants. As it is the largest ot"^ 

 European birds, great rewards are given for the killing one, more 

 especially as they have been known to destroy young children. On 

 this account, it is said, to be customary for parents, when obliged to be 

 absent, to fasten their infants to trees, in order to prevent their being- 

 carried off. Supposed to breed chiefly in Egypt, as it is seen there in 

 great flocks, among other birds of prey, which unite on the banks of 

 the Nile, to feed on the putrid carcasses left there by the overflowing 

 of that river. Is also an occasional inhabitant of Gibraltar, migrating 

 there annually in the spring; they hover over the rock in pairs; are 

 vulgarly called Rock Eagles, and seem disposed to reside and breed 

 there, but are constantly assaulted and disturbed, not only by the jack 

 daws, but by a pair of ravens, who claim an exclusive right to the 

 distiict, and \\dll not suffer any large bird of the Genus, or order, to 

 breed there. 



Pallas observes, that this bird makes the nest and brings up its 

 young on the high rocks of the great Altaic Chain, and beyond the 

 Lake Baikal. 



32.— BLACK. 



Vultur niger, Ind. Orn. i. p. 6.; Gm. Lin. i. 248. Briss. i. 457. Id. 8vo. i. 131. Ruii. 



p. 9. Will. 35. Daud, u. 17. Shaw Zool. vii. 31. 

 Swarthy Vulture, Charl. Ex. p. 71. 

 Black Vulture, Gen. Si/n. i. 16. Will. Eng. p. 66, 



THIS is said to exceed the Golden Vulture in size ; the plumage 

 black, except the wings and tail, which are brown ; legs feathered to 

 the toes. 



This is frequently met with in Egypt. Mr. Temminck thinks 

 it to be a young bird of the Bearded species. 



