CATALOGUE. 
11 
plumulis lanuginosis albis, tarsis parte inferiore et interna plurnis 
devestita." 
But even in specimens from the same locality, the external cover- 
ing varies considerably, according to sex or age ; in young subjects 
the head and neck are brown or black. — ( Journ. A. S. B. VII. p. 24.) 
A very full and comprehensive account, as well of the external 
covering and occasional local differences, as of the habits of this bird, 
is given by the late E. T. Bennett, Esq., in his work, " The Gardens 
and Menagerie of the Zoological Society," from an individual which 
lived a considerable time in the gardens : the details given by Mr. 
Bennett are confirmed by several Indian naturalists. In the fourth 
volume of the Journ. A. S. Beng. p. 455, Mr. Hodgson states, — 
" The manners of this bird are decidedly more vulturine than aquiline. 
Ordinarily, he is met with in groups, or pairs, or singly, without 
marked distinctions of habits in that respect ; but the prospect of an 
abundant repast is sure to collect numbers of the species, too 
voraciously intent upon satisfying the cravings of an appetite 'de- 
pendent for its gratification upon contiagencies, to admit of their 
betraying any of that shyness of man which the aquiline race inva- 
riably manifest. If the flesh-pots be exposed at Simla, or Massuri, 
or elsewhere in the western hills, it becomes necessary to keep a 
good watch upon them, lest the bearded viilture steal a share of the 
contents ; and the offals and carrion-carcases, freely abandoned to 
him by our European soldiery, and by the peasantry, he rushes to 
devour, almost heedless of the neighbourhood of human kind." 
Lieutenant Hutton's account (Journ. A. S. B. YII. p. 21) agrees 
with that of Mr. Hodgson. 
Bishop Heber (Journey through Upper India, &c.) gives an 
account of an eagle of an extraordinary size which was shot by 
Lieutenant Eisher, near the Himalaya. It measured thirteen feet 
between the tips of its extended wings. Erom Lieutenant Eisher' s 
description, it was doubtless an individual of the Gypaetus harhatus, 
" This is no doubt the bird which carries away the children from the 
streets of Almorah." " It appears," the Bishop adds, " strongly to 
resemble the noble bird described by Bruce, under the name of 
Nisser, as common among the mountains of Abyssinia." — (Travels, 
vol. YII. Appendix, p. 255, fig. 31.) Two species of Nisser are 
mentioned by Bruce, the Nisser "Werk (fig. 31) and the Nisser 
Tookoor (fig. 32). The first is distinguished by the name of Abou 
Duch'n or Eather Long-Beard, of which the following story is re- 
lated. " Upon the highest top of the mountain Lamalmon, while 
