Kev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 245 



the other side, and after working carefully the whole face of the 

 cliffs, would gradually rise above the valley in circling flights till 

 they were lost to our eyes in the aerial distance above. 



VuLTUR MONACHUS, L. The Cinereous Vulture is by no means 

 common in Palestine ; but a few appear to be scattered over the 

 country, living generally in the neighbourhood of, but not exactly 

 in company with, the Griffons, from which, on the wing, they are 

 not easily distinguished, unless the two species be seen flying in 

 company. When in repose it is easy to recognize this bird, even 

 at some distance, by the dark brown of its plumage, which is very 

 different from the tawny hue of its ally. During the winter 

 we observed it once or twice in Central Palestine ; but only once 

 during our long sojourn near the Dead Sea, when a solitary bird 

 of this species was put up near the top of a mountain behind 

 Engedi. On the 27th of February Mr. Upcher, while walking 

 with me from the plain of Gennesaret to Tiberias, shot a Bonelli's 

 Eagle under the cliffs overhanging the Sea of Galilee. I saw a 

 Vulture dash from a small cave just behind him at the report of 

 the piece, but it wheeled round a corner before we had more 

 than a glimpse of it. We were unable at the time to climb up 

 and examine the cave, but returned in the afternoon, reinforced 

 by Messrs. Shepherd and Bartlett, to lay siege to it. We easily 

 mounted to a ledge about twelve feet under the cave, but no 

 bird appeared. My companions, who had their guns, half sus- 

 pected they were brought on a wild goose-chase, and maintained 

 it was impossible any bird would have sat so close. While we 

 were talking, a sudden rush, like the beating of the branches of 

 a tree, was heard, and a huge dark object dashed close over our 

 heads, at a distance of not more than six feet. Both their guns 

 were fired at the instant, but in what direction it is difiicult to 

 say, as the bird did not even take the trouble to shake its wings 

 for some time. In wheeling circles it continued to return, and 

 swept as near to us as prudence permitted, while Mr. Shepherd 

 climbed up to the cavern, and in a few seconds returned with 

 one white egg, a little larger than the ordinary run of Griffons', 

 but of exactly the same texture. It was rather soiled, and 

 proved to be hard-set. The nest was scanty, consisting chiefly 



