402 The Griffon Vulture 
This and the extreme shortness and squareness of the tail are 
noticeable features, which render it easy to identify the bird at a 
great distance. 
I have often been asked whether these great birds ever show 
fight when their nests and young are molested. As a matter of fact 
YOUNG GRIFFON VULTURE, ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS OLD: THE OFFENSIVE-DEFENSIVE. 
actually they never do, but it took me some time before I realized 
that they are far too much alarmed at the presence of man to attempt 
to attack him. It is of course obvious enough that a bird of such 
size and weight, and capable of moving with such velocity, could 
