Fourth Expedition, 1907 439 
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mistaken, for shortly afterwards, a Bearded Vulture’s head appeared 
peering at us over the edge of the great nest, which for convenience 
sake, I have styled ‘‘No. 2” in the preceding chapter. With the 
telescope it was as easy to see the bird as if close at hand. Surely 
no bird ever looked so savage with its cruel pale orange eye 
encircled with crimson fixed on us. The jet black ‘‘ eyebrows” and 
““moustache’”’ (it is sadly unscientific but exactly expresses the 
general appearance) as well as the shaggy black beard, seern alike 
designed to give the bird an aspect of malevolence and ferocity, 
which certainly are not merited. Appearances are assuredly against 
a Bearded Vulture for despite this seemingly ferocious demeanour 
it exhibits far greater confidence in man than do Griffons, as ts 
shown by its choice of nesting places at times near human 
dwellings. On .the other hand, notwithstanding all tales to the 
contrary, the Bearded Vulture is vastly more alarmed than is the 
Griffon when its nest is approached and simply takes wing and flies 
away, regardless of the fate of its offspring, in this trait much 
resembling its smaller relative the Neophron. The following 
account of my experiences at the nest, which may be taken as a 
typical instance, will, I think afford proof of this. 
Having watched us intently for a time, the old bird lowered her 
head and was lost to view. I was now certain the nest contained 
young and we made our preparations accordingly. We ascended 
the talus as before and on reaching the point whence it emerged 
from the chasm I escaladed the cliff on the far side of it, until 
nearly on a level with the nest and took the photograph of the 
crag which is here reproduced. It was whilst thus engaged that 
the old bird, hearing the clatter of our feet on the loose stones, 
once again put out her head. This time she was within shot of 
us and we all had another opportunity of admiring her splendid 
colouring. Her baleful look as she took wing was a thing to 
remember. 
