A Great Tree-Nester 211 
always a tree-nester. In situations which favour the species, such 
as the great pine woods of Central Spain, it commonly selects 
some tall tree on which it constructs a great fabric of sticks 
and boughs. But, failing big trees, it will resort to smaller ones, 
and I have myself seen one in a stunted alder tree not 20 ft. 
above the ground, and have heard, on the excellent authority of 
the late Dr. Stark, of another in a small cork tree at about the 
same height. The Black Vulture, whether by nature of its sable 
plumage or general appearance, always gives one the impression 
of being somewhat of a higher-class bird than the Griffon. Its 
head, although not feathered, is covered with close-growing dark 
brown down, which, combined with its dark ruff, gives it some- 
thing of the appearance of wearing a friar’s cowl, hence its name 
of monachus. The result is that it is less repulsive than is Gyps 
fulvus. I(t belongs to the family of the true Vultures, whereas 
the Griffon is merely a poor relation of these more august birds. 
Still, it cannot be denied that in habits and customs there is 
nothing whatever to choose between them. In fact, the Griffons, 
in the southern part of the Peninsula, and the Black Vultures, 
which are found in their greatest numbers in middle Spain, carry 
out identical duties in the necropolis line in the regions they 
respectively occupy. 
The first time I set eyes on a Black Vulture I was riding 
across the great plain of La Janda on an autumn day and 
became aware of a bevy of Griffons engaged on the carcass of a 
horse, among them I saw what I imagined to be a Raven. As 
I drew nearer, a fracas arose among the big birds and they 
scattered outwards whilst my supposed Raven’ was left in 
possession of the carcass, and I then saw it was a huge Black 
Vulture. Reining up, I watched the Griffons closing in around 
and each time they interfered with the solitary black bird it 
made a lunge at them and drove them back. I rode close enough 
