2 j BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Himalayas and Turkestan. Beyond the next species to be considered, 
it is probably the only Griffon Vulture found in South Africa, for it 
is unlikely that the specimen of the true Gyps fulvus in the British 
Museum, which was purchased from Leadbeater, did really come from 
the Cape of Good Hope, as it was said to have done. 
The Griffon Vulture is found throughout the Colony and Natal, and 
still lingers even in the neighbourhood of Cape Town. They breed 
in the most inaccessible precipices, depositing a few sticks in some 
hollow of the rock, on which they lay one egg, which is of a dirty 
white, more or less blotched and speckled with very light brown, 
particularly at the obtuse end. Axis, 3’’ 9’’’; diam. 2” 10”; 
weight 9:03. It is usually laid in June. 
Mr. Henry Buckley, who has kindly furnished much interesting 
matter to this work, writes as follows :—* My eggs were taken at 
Nel’s Poort, June, 1868. They vary from3°72 x 2 75 to 3°62 x 2°58. 
They are white in colour, with faint brown spots and streaks, which 
however may be only nest stains.” 
At Nel’s Poort* is a breeding place of these birds. It is situated 
half way up a vast accessible precipice, and is their constant resort 
at all times of the year, It is frequented by great numbers of birds, 
and their dung whitens the cliff to such an extent, that the spot is 
visible many miles off. They have bred in this place from time im- 
memorial, and from it they range over the surrounding country. On 
killing a springbuck or any animal, it is curious to see how they come 
trooping in a lengthened string from this place to their anticipated 
banquet. Though not one may be visible when the shot is fired, in 
seven or eight minutes hundreds will be gliding to the spot. 
The Chumie Banner has the following :—“ We are informed by Mr. 
M’ Alister of the Bontebok Flats, that a little while ago he was sur- 
prised by ‘ Aasvogels’ making an attack on his flock of sheep. 
Two persons were on the spot trying to stop these avaricious birds, 
but in vain. It was not until Mr. M’Alister arrived that they were 
made to leave their prey, after killing and devouring two full-grown 
sheep. They even attacked two herds with daring courage, caring 
for nothing.” The editor has also been informed of an attack made 
by Vultures on a flock of sheep near Colesberg, and that it really was 
a Griffon, and no Hagle which was the robber. Specimens are 
* For an account of a successful raid on the Vultures “ Krantz” in the Nel’s 
Poort Mountains, see Ids, 1869, p. 68. 
