FALCON. 141 



62.— VULTURINE EAGLE. 



Falco vulturinua, Ind. Orn. Sup. p.W. DaucUn,'u. p,5-3. Shaw's Zool, \ii, p. 58. 

 Le Caffre, Levaill. Ois. i. p. 28. pi. 6. Id, Vog. Fr. ed. 8vo. p. 255, 

 Gypaete, Tern. Man. ed. 2d. Anal. p. xlviii. . 

 Vulturine Eagle, Gen. Syn. Svp. ii. p. 15. 



THIS equals the Golden Eagle in size, with a strong bill, the 

 base dusky ; irides chestnut brown ; plumage in general black ; the 

 wings, when closed, reach eight inches beyond the tail, the end of 

 which is rounded, the outer feather being shorter than the rest, but 

 is usually damaged fi'om rubbing against the rocks, on which it 

 perches ; legs covered for three parts of the length, with dirty 

 yellow feathers. It has affinity in its manners with some of the 

 Vulture genus, but the head is wholly covered with feathers. 



Inhabits Caffraria, but is rare ; feeds on dead carcases, and of 

 course greatly offensive ; it \vill also attack sheep, and devour them 

 on the spot, except such a portion as may be necessary for its young, 

 which it brings to them in its claws ; in which it differs from the true 

 Vulture, which is said to disgorge the nutriment it supplies to its 

 young. From the peculiar length of wing it rises with difficulty from 

 the ground. 



The natives call it Stront-Vogel, or Aas-Vogel, dung, or canion 

 bird. 



