HISTOEY OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



GRIFFON VULTURE. 



Gyps fuk us, GRAY. 



Cyps vu/fjaris, SATIGXI 



Vultur fulvus, - GOULD. 



Gyps A Vulture. Fulvus Yellow tawny. 



THE 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 it 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 Thich- are more natural to it. Thus, 

 'vice versa/ the Eagle, w r hose 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. 



