GYPS FULVUS. 151 



Stark also mentions that many castings, about four inches long 

 by one inch in diameter, composed entirely of vegetable matter, 

 such as long grass, fibres, and green leaves of the cork-tree, are 

 to be found near their nests and roosting-places ; these materials 

 do not appear to have been " accidentally devoured with the 

 intestines of animals, but are probably plucked and swallowed 

 by the Vultures to cleanse their stomachs, for when freshly 

 ejected they are coated with a tough glairy mucus." 



It is a fine sight to see thirty or more of these gigantic birds 

 fly out at once with a rushing noisy flight from their nests, which 

 they do if a shot is fired at the bottom of the cliff in which they 

 breed ; and this is the only method of finding the exact position 

 of their nests, as well as those of other rock-nesting birds, though 

 later on each large crevice or hole where there is a nest is plainly 

 visible, owing to the dung which covers the face of the rock 

 below, looking as if a bucket of whitewash had been poured out 

 of the cave. Vultures in Andalucia are far more wary than in 

 other countries in which I have seen them, except, of course, 

 during the breeding-season. 



Griffons roost according to the wind, generally about rocks, and 

 near their breeding-places ; but we found in the Sierra Retin 

 many roosting on cork-trees on the side of a sheltered valley. 

 Some of these trees were nearly killed by the Vultures' droppings, 

 and the ground all around strewed with their feathers, showing 

 they must have used this situation for many years. Verner informs 

 me that on the opposite side of the great cliffs where they breed 

 on the Ciscar, he has seen as many as eight together taking 

 shelter in one large sandstone cavern on the lee side of the 

 mountain. 



How the numbers which inhabit Andalucia at times find 

 sufficient to eat is a puzzle to me ; they must be able to fast for 

 some days, or else travel immense distances for their food, as in 

 the winter and spring it is unusual to see dead animals about ; 

 but in the hot parching summer months vast quantities of cattle 



