GYPS FL'LVUS. 147 



seventy eggs. More solitary in habits than the Griffon, and 

 unlike that Vulture, they build in trees and not in colonies 

 laying only one egg, about the beginning of April. 



This Vulture is to be recognized when on the wing, within a 

 short distance, by its dark appearance. The immature birds are 

 very dark-coloured, becoming lighter with age, till they attain 

 the adult plumage. The bare skin about the head and neck is 

 of a pale bluish colour ; nostrils rounded. 



Adult. Ruff of brown down. Plumage much lighter than young. 

 Young. Ruff of lanceolated feathers, general colour blackish brown. 

 Length 42 inches. 



176. Gyps fulvus (J. F. Gmelin). Griffon Vulture. 



Moorish. Niser. Spanish. B nitre, Pajaraco, Buitre franciscano. 



" This Vulture occurs commonly near Tangier, both as a 

 resident and on passage, and is often seen feeding in company 

 with the Neophron on the same carcass." Foxier, 



I did not see many Griffon Vultures in Morocco, but there 

 w r ere a few pair about Jebel Musa in April. Near Gibraltar they 

 are very plentiful, nesting in colonies, not exceeding thirty-five 

 pairs, in holes or, rather, small caves in the perpendicular crags 

 or " lajas," which are found in many of the Sierras ; but occasion- 

 ally a solitary nest will be found some distance from any other, 

 while Mr. A. C. Stark mentions a nest " built on the ground near 

 the top of a hill " in the Tarifa district. 



The most important breeding-places near to Gibraltar are the 

 Sierra de San Bartolome, the Sierra de Plata, and la Laja del 

 Ciscar, all near Taivilla. One egg only is the usual comple- 

 ment ; and they lay about the 20th of February. Should the 

 first egg be taken, it seems that they lay again about the 15th of 

 April. Of course it is impossible to prove this ; but eggs were 

 laid at that time in nests which had been robbed in February. 

 Stark says that in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar and Tarifa 

 fresh eggs of the Griffon may be obtained, roughly speaking, 



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