THE GRIFFON VULTURE 17 
mess away. It is also this, one is disposed to 
think, and this alone, that is at the bottom of what 
to us seems an amazing fact, that they never destroy 
birds, so that even birds whose travels take them 
out of Egypt for a season, returning, know that 
here anyhow they will not be molested, and show 
themselves familiarly where in other countries they 
would exhibit the very opposite tendency. 
Of late years a change has undoubtedly taken 
place in some birds owing to the ever-increasing 
number of visitors, many of whom come with 
guns determined to get specimens. Birds are not 
fools, and the great Griffon in particular seems to 
have learnt that it behoves him to have a care, 
and distrust the too near approach of the white 
man who may desire to possess his great wings 
to mount as trophies: and one has heard of its 
becoming quite a difficult matter to get within 
range of these grand birds. Grand birds they are 
indeed when seen on the wing fairly near. When 
far up in mid-air they strike your imagination as 
mysterious, marvellous masters of the air, but 
see them close enough to make out their very 
feathers, and then no other word comes to your 
lips but, “What grand birds!” All the sleepy, 
dull, heavy look that they have when clumsily 
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