64. Messrs. II. J. Elvves and T. E. Buckley 



the Griffon, we found five nests within an hour's walk on the 

 borders of a large forest near Babadagh. Most of these nests 

 were placed on stunted oak-trees, the tops of which they com- 

 pletely covered. Out of about twenty nests only three contained 

 two eggs each, all the rest but one ; and though they are not so 

 brightly coloured as some Spanish specimens we have seen, many 

 of them are richly marked with brown. On this point we can- 

 not agree with Mr. Tristram (Ibis, 1865, p. 246), as we never 

 took or saw a Griffon's egg approaching in richness of colour 

 that of an average Black Vulture. They are also longer and 

 more pointed than is usual with the eggs of raptorial birds. 

 The Black Vulture, unless sitting hard, will not allow herself to 

 be approached within shot, but goes ofi" quickly and, after flying 

 round once or twice, generally disappears. 



With a good glass she can be seen on the nest at a great dis- 

 tance ; and we saved ourselves much time in this way, as we 

 never went to a nest unless the bird was on it. 



Near Pravidy and Schumla the Black Vulture is not so 

 numerous as the Griflfbn, and, though there are many suitable 

 rocks in that country, always makes its nest on a tree. 



2. Gyps fulvus (Gm.). Griffon-Vulture. 



Both in Macedonia and Bulgaria we found this splendid bird 

 common, but nowhere so numerous as in the Pravidy valley, and 

 a range of rocks about two miles from the station at Schumla- 

 road. On the 18tli of April we went there, taking ropes and 

 men to assist us, as we expected to have much difficulty in 

 getting at the nests. The Griffons, however, which had pro- 

 bably been hardly ever disturbed, were obliging enough to make 

 their nests on low ledges, some of which were perfectly easy of 

 access ; and had we been three weeks earlier, we might have got 

 twenty or thirty eggs. Most of the young birds were already 

 hatched ; and we most decidedly difi'er from what Mr. Farman 

 says (Ibis, 1868, p. 408) as to the time of the Griffon's laying, 

 for our experience is to the effect that the Black Vulture is at 

 least a fortnight later than the other. In the sandstone clifi's 

 which hem in the Pravidy valley, many caves and holes have 

 been excavated as places of refuge in former days, and are now 



