A412 The Bearded Vulture 
accomplished my object. But here the human factor intervened 
for my companions were invariably officers of the Navy or Army 
or Civil officials whose leave of absence was restricted to a few 
days. As this account will show, the Bearded Vulture’s nests 
which I had marked down for spoliation were situated in places 
which demanded a degree of both skill and nerve on the part of 
those who handled the ropes, which, with no aspersion on the 
genuine pluck of my excellent friends among the inhabitants, they 
lack and with good reason. For they do not understand rope-work 
and they are in consequence unduly apprehensive of the dangers 
attending it and hence by no means inspire the confidence in the 
man on the rope which is so essential to avoid disaster. 
When on the wing, the Bearded Vulture is easily recognizable 
from the Griffon Vulture by its long cuneate-shaped tail which is 
full six inches longer than that of the Griffon and looks even more 
so when the two birds are flying high overhead. 
The Griffon when soaring, habitually keeps its wings widely 
extended, the carpus and metacarpus forming a slightly re-entrant 
angle, the sharp pointed head drawn back into the encircling ruff 
appearing as if set in the apex of a very obtuse V formed by the 
extended wings. The primaries are all widely separated at the 
tips and for over a third of their length and can be counted at 
a great distance whilst the short square tail gives to the eye 
the impression that the wings are set on very far back in the 
body. 
On the other hand, the Bearded Vulture when on the wing 
in quest of food, although at times it emulates the Griffon in 
its wide circles, when its primaries are similarly separated, has 
much more the appearance of the Eagle in its flight. As it 
glides along there is often a perceptible salient angle formed 
by the carpus and metacarpus, which increases greatly as the 
bird makes one of the wonderful dives which are so charac- 
