375 



was obtained near Armentieres, in July 1828. In Southern France it becomes tolerably common ; 

 and Baron J. W. von Muller says that many breed in the Cevennes, and from there they visit, 

 during the summer, the Camargue and the Crau. In Portugal and in Spain it is resident and 

 numerous. Lord Lilford informs me that it is less abundant in Central Spain than Vultur 

 monachus; and Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 29) that "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. The most important 

 breeding-places near to Gibraltar are the Sierra de San Bartolome, the Sierra de Plata, el Organo 

 in the Sierra Enmedia, and la Laja del Sicar, all near Taivilla." 



Mr. A. von Homeyer says that it visits the Balearic Isles in winter, sometimes in considerable 

 numbers, but is never found there in the summer. 



In Savoy, according to Bailly, it but rarely occurs, and only singly, apparently driven out of 

 its usual haunts by a severe gale of wind or bad weather. It has only been recorded as occurring 

 in the mountainous districts, and usually towards the spring, after a severe and long winter. 



In Italy the Griffon Vulture is resident in the Maritime Alps, and also in the mountains of 

 Sicily and Sardinia, whence individuals straggle to other parts of the country. Mr. A. B. 

 Brooke says (Ibis, 1873, p. 145) : — " It is resident, and by no means uncommon in Sardinia, 

 and breeds in the island. Their appearance, however, in some localities is uncertain, many days 

 passing without one being seen. In Sardinia they are far from bold, but are extremely shy and 

 suspicious ; and I have frequently seen them refuse to be attracted by the most tempting pieces 

 of meat, after having soared round once or twice, and failed to satisfy themselves of the perfect 

 safety of the locality. The greatest number I ever recollect having seen together was on one 

 occasion near Oristano, when I counted about eighty soaring over a dead carcass." 



In the Ionian Islands, according to Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1860, p. 1), this Vulture is "abundant 

 in Epirus, and indeed in all parts of the mainland which I have visited during the winter months. 

 At Butrinto, a favourite shooting-resort from Corfu, I have observed great numbers, particularly 

 during the rainy weather of January and February of 1857, when they were attracted by the 

 quantities of horses and cattle which died and were left to decay in the marshes. I never could 

 discover that these Vultures bred in the neighbourhood of the coast ; but a pair or two are to be 

 observed at almost all seasons in the vicinity of Santa Quaranta, Tre Scoglie, Butrinto, Ptelia, 

 Pagania, Livitazza, and Phanari, small harbours on the coast of Epirus frequented by sportsmen 

 from Corfu." It is resident in Greece, but very much more numerous during the summer months, 

 when, according to Lindermeyer, it is often seen in flocks of from twenty to twenty-five indi- 

 viduals ; but, on the other hand, Von der Muhle states that he has never seen this Vulture in 

 flocks. 



It breeds in the cliffs and rocks of almost all the mountains of Greece. In Southern 

 Germany it is only known as a somewhat rare straggler, except on the Lower Danube. Dr. 

 Fritsch, who cites several instances of its occurrence in Bohemia, says that it visits that country 

 pretty regularly, though at intervals of several years. In 1866 a large flock appeared on the 

 battle-field near Sadowa, and two were killed. The Bitter von Tschusi-Schmidhofen writes to 

 me that, according to Heinrichs, " a pair nested in 1831 in the Gross-Barania mountain (Silesia) ; 

 and in Upper and Lower Austria, the Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, Galicia, Krain, and Kainten it is 



