AVES. 997 
feathers. Truthful to the instinct of cleanliness, however, which appears to 
prevail amongst all animals, vultures are said frequently to wash themselves 
thoroughly. 
Vultur monachus, Linn., is the European species; in addition to which 
there are of this sub-family two African and one Asiatic species ( Vultur 
ponticerianus, Lath.), well known as one of the Indian vultures. Little or 
nothing is reported concerning them other than the general habits of the 
family. 
Sub-fam. 2. Gypine or griffin Vultures. Bill lengthened, compressed, 
hooked, and very sharp. Wings long and powerful; tarsi moderate, very 
strong; tail rather long, rounded. Head more or less covered with hairs, more 
so than in the preceding. Size large; colors mostly fulvous. 
This sub-family is composed of species which appear to be analogous to the 
more savage types of rapacious animals. 
One species, Gyps fulvus, Linn. (pl. 104, fig. 9), inhabits Europe and is 
supposed to be common to Asia and Africa; it is popularly called the Tawny 
Vulture or Griffin, and by the latter name appears to have been known to the 
ancients. There are about four other species inhabiting Asia and Africa, the 
most remarkable of which are the Bengal Vulture and the Indian Vulture, 
which are in many places common features of Indian scenery and remarkable 
for their numbers and voracity. 
Sub-fam. 3. Gypaétine or bearded Vultures. Head and neck completely 
clothed. Bill strong, long, elevated towards the end, which is hooked. A well 
defined beard, or bunch of stiff hair-like bristles directed forwards from be- 
neath the lower mandible, is the peculiar character of this sub-family amongst 
rapacious birds. Legs short, middle toe long. Wings and tail long, the 
former pointed and very powerful. 
The bearded Vultures, with most of the characters of their family, have also 
the swiftness of flight of the Falcons, to which they have been attached by 
some ornithologists. This sub-family is composed of a single genus. Gypaé- 
tos, of which the principal species is the Gypaétos barbatus (Linn.), the 
Bearded Vulture or Lémmergeyer of the Alps. It derives its English name 
from the stiff beard-like tuft which characterizes the genus, and is much 
dreaded in some mountainous districts of Europe on account of its preying 
upon lambs and other young and feeble animals, added to which it has the tra- 
ditionary reputation of being disposed to carry off young children when left 
unprotected within range of its keen sight. The latter, however, is not well 
established, and the form of its talons, which are weak as in all the Vultures, 
tends to throw further doubt on the subject ; though, if very hungry, we would 
not trust him. 
The same species is supposed to inhabit all the high mountain ranges of the 
old continent, but the birds inhabiting those of both Asia and Africa are repre- 
sented by competent naturalists as different species, which is probably the 
case. If so, there are three species of the bearded vultures. 
Sub-fam. 4. Neophrine or slender-billed Vultures. Bill much lengthened 
and slender. Nostrils longitudinal, nearly medial; cere extended; face and 
part of the neck only naked. Size smaller than the preceding. 
501 
