HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
GRIFFON VULTURE. 
Gyps fulvus, GRAY. 
Gyps vulgaris, SAVIGNY,. 
Vultur fulvus, GOULD. 
Gyps—A Vulture. Fulvus—Yellow—tawny. 
Tur Griffon Vulture is an inhabitant of various parts of 
Europe, Asia, and Africa, regardless alike, seemingly, of cold 
and heat. It is met with in Turkey, Greece, the Tyrol, 
and Silesia; on the Alps and the Pyrenees; and is particularly 
abundant on both sides of the straits of Gibraltar, and as it 
has once been known, as presently mentioned, to visit this 
country, it may be hoped that if may again be met with here. 
Like the rest of its congeners, this bird feeds on carrion, 
and thus performs a useful part in the economy of nature. 
Occasionally it will attack weak or sickly animals, but this 
is only as a ‘dernier resort,’ and when it cannot supply its 
appetite by the resources which are more natural to it. Thus, 
‘vice versa,’ the Eagle, whose congenial prey is the living 
animal, will, when forced by the extremity of hunger, put up 
with that food which under other circumstances it rejects, and 
leaves for the less dainty Vulture. 
When the Griffon meets with a plentiful supply of carrion, 
it continues feeding on it, if not disturbed, which it easily is 
by even the minor animals, until quite gorged, and then 
remains quiescent until digestion has taken place: if surprised 
in this condition, it is unable to escape by flight, and becomes 
an easy capture. It feeds its young, not by carrying food to 
them in its talons, as is the habit of the Eagles, Falcons, 
Hawks, and Owls, but by disgorging from its maw part of 
what it had swallowed. 
VoL, I, B 
