of the Central Pyrenees, 81 



If the Griffon superficially recalls the Buzzard, the Bearded 

 Vulture reminds one sometimes of a Kite, and again of a 

 Gull. His tail is racquet-shaped, but its length and mobility, 

 and above all the soft easy half-stroke of the wings, the rise 

 aud fall, momentary check, hover and pass on, are all very 

 Kite-like. So is the set of the wings, which droop from the 

 shoulder, and are not thrust stiffly forward like a Griffon's. 

 A line drawn from tip to tip would not clear the head to a 

 watcher from below, but would pass at once through the 

 roots of the primaries and behind the undulating lines of the 

 fore edge of the wings. A Griffon draws his head and neck 

 back into his ruff whilst on the wing. A series of attempts 

 to sketch a Griffon soaring recall, when most successful, the 

 sign-royal of Rameses carved on some of the Nile temples. 



67. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). 



I saw a pair of Egyptian Vultures near Gavarnie on June 

 6tli, One of them, when attacked by a Peregrine, tumbled, 

 almost like a Pigeon. A week later another pair were 

 wheeling over Torla. At the Breche de Roland, 9500 feet, 

 I watched a solitary bird crossing into Spain, flying before 

 the wind at a speed one more readily associates with a hungry 

 Swift than with this leisurely little scavenger. No doubt 

 he had just received information of a dead cat in some hamlet 

 on the Spanish side. 



By the white wedge-shaped tail this bird is easily recog- 

 nized on the wing. I had expected to find it common on the 

 frontier, but our French guides did not know it, either by 

 the name of Vautour or Pelican. 



68. Gypaetus barbatus (Linn.). 



The Bearded Vulture is known to the Pyrenean guides as 

 the Gypdete. Celestin Passet killed one near Gavarnie last 

 winter, but our men knew of no place, even by tradition, where 

 it bred in the Hautes Pyrenees. I have already mentioned 

 this bird. 



69. BuTEO VULGARIS, Lcach. 



The Buzzard is common among the wooded foot-hills ; one 

 sees them from the chateau at Pau and at Eaux-Bonnes. 



SER. VII.— VOL. 1, G 



