THE KILLING OF THE GREY BEAR 179 



of cotton-grass thrown to the winds counselled us. At 

 the half of the climb a covey of snow-partridge frus- 

 trated the plan, and their shrillings carried the alarm 

 afar. Sentinels for the tur these birds. 



In a trice the hill-side was clear of game ! 



It was on this morning that we saw a griffon vulture 

 kill a full-sized tur without any more ado than we should 

 make at exterminating a fly. The bird swooped 

 suddenly from a great height, striking just as a gannet 

 strikes, and lighted upon the shoulder of its unthinking 

 prey. In the struggle and swirl of wings I could not see 

 the ravening vulture tearing the eyes from its victim, 

 but as Cecily, who had the glass, reported the progress 

 of the unequal battle, I could feel the cruel thing in the 

 air. We were far, far out of range, and the tragedy 

 went on. At first the bird pinned the ibex to the ground, 

 but presently the poor beast freed itself, and staggered 

 on a few paces, pursued by the flapping Nemesis, who 

 ruthlessly drove the stricken animal over the edge of a 

 little cliff down which he fell heavily. For an unhurt 

 ibex such a toss would be as nothing, for this maimed 

 one it was the end. Instantly the vulture was on his 

 prey again, ripping, despoiling, killing. 



The death roll of the tur must be a high one. The 

 Cinereous vulture and his cousin the Griffon, the 

 Lammergeyer, the hawk tribe, and the eagle-owls — 

 all to be fed. The grey bear, too, has to take in enough 

 fuel to warm his blood over the winter. He preys upon 

 the very old and the very young ibex, although the 

 mountain men have it that Bruin kills his beasts by 

 roUing stones upon them from a great height ! Ground 



