17 
and the Egyptian vulture are also abundant, the latter, however, 
less numerous, and generally in pairs. The noble lammergeier 
{Gypmtns harhatus, L.) has its principal strongholds in the two 
extreme ranges, the Pyrenees and the Sierra Xevada, where it 
may generally be observed soaring for hours -with scarcely a 
perceptible movement of its wings ; at the same time a pair or 
two are to be found in every mountain range with Avhich I am 
ac(piainted throughout the whole of the I’eninsula. Its name, 
“ quebranta-huesos,” or “ bone-smasher,” is well bestowed, there 
being ample evidence of its custom of taking bones up into the 
Hir and letting them fall, the result being that the bone is s])lit, 
whatever the intention may be. Utilitarians, as are Spaniards 
in general, natundly suppose that this is done to get at the 
marrow, but probably the object is to reduce the bone itself into 
fragments convenient for swallowing, as without large (quantities 
of bones this species cannot be kept alive, or at least will not 
thrive in confinement. At the same time I may be permitted to 
express my utter disbelief in any of the stories of this bird 
carrying off young children, especially one of nearly three years 
of age, an event which we are asked to believe on the strength of 
what some one else told to Xaiimann as having happened more than 
a century ago, and duly quoted ever since doiyn to the very latest 
history of the species. When anyone will give me the slightest 
proof that the bearded vulture was ever known to clutch and rfy 
aicaij Kith anything of seven or eight pounds, the average iveight 
of a new'-bom infant, I shall then be more able to swallow the story 
of the three year old ; till then I beg to be excused this stretch 
of credulity. One glance at the bird’s feet and talons shoidd be 
sufficient to shew the improbability, to use a mild expression, of 
this statement ; the real robber Avas doubtless the golden eagle. 
Ihe golden eagle {Aqmla fulva) is generally distributed through- 
out the countr}- ; more numerous perhaps in the mountains but 
hir from rare in the wooded plains, to which the Spanish form of 
imperial eagle {Aq. adalherti, Brehm.) is almost entirely confined 
during the breeding season. The young of this species from their 
tawny plumage were for some time supposed to be specimens of 
the tawny eagle {Aq. ua‘noides, Cuv.) but after careful examination 
of a very large series, 1 can only refer to a single specimen of the 
latter as having been obtained in Sjiain ; it is in Lord Lilford’s 
C 
