A Dramatic Meeting 415 
I did not fire! Somehow, it seemed to be almost murder to 
take that splendid life, and although my finger was on the trigger 
and the bird covered at less than 25 yards, after it had turned, I 
refrained. I have never regretted my self-control on this occasion, 
but what is perhaps more curious, since that day I have repeatedly 
had Bearded Vultures which were nesting within easy shot and | 
have, so far, never fired at one. I sometimes think that before | 
migrate myself, I may be led to slaughter just one, as something to 
keep me in mind, when I am no longer able to visit their haunts, 
of these truly glorious birds. But so far I have resisted the 
temptation. 
From time to time in my wanderings I have come across many 
Bearded Vultures but never have I seen one again at such close 
quarters. 
In the spring of 1902 I was living in the mountains between 
Malaga and Estepona and one day made an expedition to a 
distant cliff over which I had seen a Bearded Vulture flying on 
the previous day. 1 found a very fine cavern tenanted by 
Griffon Vultures, and as the country looked promising and I knew 
there were Bearded Vultures about, I decided to wait and watch. 
Some time afterwards a Bearded Vulture came into sight and 
commenced to play around above a cliff not far from my _ position. 
It was evidently not nesting there and from its movements I 
suspected and still suspect that the cave tenanted by the Griffon 
was one of its alternative sites. Subsequent events gave 
strength to my views, for presently the old female Griffon, not 
approving of our prolonged stay on the terrace below her nest, 
after standing up in her cavern and craning her neck over the 
brink to take stock of us, dropped off the ledge she was on and 
flapped away. 
As she rounded the cliff above which the Bearded Vulture 
was soaring, the latter made for her and mobbed her. The 
