284 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Ornithological Notes 



facing the northern arm of that extraordinary fissure ; of which 

 I ought to attempt a short description, as, besides the Lammer- 

 geyer's nest, it contains by far the largest colony of Vulturfulvus 

 in these regions. 



In all mountainous countries it is usual to find passes across 

 the lowest part of the ridge of any chain ; but here, a mountain 

 2000 feet high, and between two and three miles wide, is split 

 asunder from the top to a depth of 1500 feet by an irregular 

 chasm, consisting of two great arms, one of which, pointing 

 W.S.W., opens out upon the plain and lake of iEtolico ; and the 

 other, pointing nearly due north, debouches on the forest valley 

 which leads to the plain of Agrinion. On entering from the west- 

 ward, the first thing that strikes the attention is a semicircular 

 sweep of precipices high up on the left, provided with holes, and 

 a place of call for a small community of Griffons. Beyond this 

 for a short distance the rock is so steep that no large bird 

 could breed upon it ; the very summit is crowned by a few of 

 the Mountain Pines of Greece {Pinus piceat). On the right 

 the precipices increase in height towards the corner of the gorge, 

 which is a little more than halfway through. They consist here 

 of two principal tiers of hard limestone rock, dipping at a mode- 

 rate angle from the anticlinal axis of the mountain, and conse- 

 uently increase in elevation the nearer we approach the centre. 

 Our nest of Gypaetus is in a clifi" belonging to the upper tier, 

 just before we arrive at the great gap which marks the head 

 of the extreme corner of the gorge. Any one standing on 

 the small path at the bottom, after making the slight ascent 

 which marks the summit of the track, will have this clifi^ more 

 than 1000 feet above him on the right hand ; and on the same 

 side he will have a good view of the two steep and gloomy 

 fissures through w'hich it is just possible to attain the heights 

 above. Looking back through the ravine he has just been 

 threading, he will get a bird's-eye peep of the lake and plain of 

 iEtolico glistening in the sunshine, whilst the pools at his feet 

 are probably frozen dry in the month of February, so chilly is 

 the sunless spot. On his left hand, far down the northern arm, 

 he will catch a glimpse of the fort which commands the entrance 

 to this most notorious pass ; and directly in front he will see the 



