THE GRIFFON VULTURE 17 



mess away. It is also this, one is disposed to 

 think, and this alone, that is at the bottom of what 

 to us seems an amazing fact, that they never destroy 

 birds, so that even birds whose travels take them 

 out of Egypt for a season, returning, know that 

 here anyhow they will not be molested, and show 

 themselves familiarly where in other countries they 

 would exhibit the very opposite tendency. 



Of late years a change has undoubtedly taken 

 place in some birds owing to the ever-increasing 

 number of visitors, many of whom come with 

 guns determined to get specimens. Birds are not 

 fools, and the great Griffon in particular seems to 

 have learnt that it behoves him to have a care, 

 and distrust the too near approach of the white 

 man who may desire to possess his great wings 

 to mount as trophies : and one has heard of its 

 becoming quite a difficult matter to get within 

 range of these grand birds. Grand birds they are 

 indeed when seen on the wing fairly near. When 

 far up in mid-air they strike your imagination as 

 mysterious, marvellous masters of the air, but 

 see them close enough to make out their very 

 feathers, and then no other word comes to your 

 lips but, "What grand birds!" All the sleepy, 

 dull, heavy look that they have when clumsily 



