on the Birds of Turkey. 65 



tenanted by Griffons and Eagle-Owls. One of these, into which 

 one of us was let down by a rope, formed a perfect chain of 

 galleries and chambers, and a most comfortable nursery for the 

 young Griffons, which were gaping and sprawUng about the 

 floor. 



Another " Griffonry " was the immense rock from which the 

 monastery of Kalipetra takes its name, in the mountains above 

 Verria ; but it was always a mystery to us how the birds managed 

 to sustain their existence. Not even Mr. Tristram's in the Wady 

 Hamam (Ibis, 1865, p. 24-8) could have been on shorter com- 

 mons; and whenever we killed a deer, they would assemble by 

 dozens round the gralloch, which could not have afforded them 

 a mouthful a piece. In the Dobrudscha, the Griffon is more 

 scarce ; but a few are always found about the cliffs of the Danube. 



3. Gypaetus barbatus (L.). Lsemmergeyer. 



We only observed this bird in the mountains of Macedonia, 

 where it seemed to be not uncommon ; but as the females were 

 probably sitting at this time, they were not seen very often. 

 We never discovered the whereabouts of their eyries ; but the 

 shepherds say that they are very destructive to the young lambs 

 and kids. In the museum at Athens, there are some very fine 

 specimens obtained on Mount Parnassus. 



4. Neophron PERCNOPTERUs (L.). Egyptian Vulture. 



We only saw one or two of these birds in Greece, and in Ma- 

 cedonia they are by no means common during the winter months; 

 but in Bulgaria they are plentiful. The "Ak haba," as it is 

 called by the Turks, does not associate with other Vultures during 

 the breeding-season, and makes a nest in a low range of cliffs, 

 generally not very difficult of access. It does not breed until 

 the end of April, when the Griffons have hatched, and lays its 

 one or two richly marked eggs in a warm nest well lined with 

 wool, rags, and hair. 



M, Alleon says that the Egyptian Vulture arrives in spring 

 and remains only to the beginning of autumn, but is found 

 during that time in great numbers in the town of Constanti- 

 nople. It seems to distinguish between the Turks and Chris- 

 tians; for in Pera, which is chiefly inhabited by foreigners, it 



N. S. VOL. VI. F 



