‘A JOURNEY IN THE EAST,’ 241 
flapped down, followed by a few Kites, and these birds at once 
began their breakfast. Later on came the disgusting Egyptian 
Vultures, with their bald heads; and the time was passing so 
tediously that I recommended my uncle to shoot, as he 
had never killed one of these birds. No sooner said than 
done; and after the smoke had rolled down the valley, 
I hastened to the spot where the bird lay, and descended to 
the quarry with the very unsavoury spoil, having advised my 
uncle to wait a little longer, as the sun had meanwhile broken 
through the clouds. 
Baron Saurma and I now selected a good post of obser- 
vation, and with our field-glasses in our hands awaited coming 
events. 
It was a quarter of an hour before the first great vultures 
appeared. They were the huge Vultur fulvus, and with slow 
beats of their wings they came sweeping round the mountain- 
top one after another, until more than sixty had gathered in 
the air. Then came the exciting moment when the leading 
bird folded its wings and plunged into the ravine ; for at this 
signal all the others followed suit, and, like an avalanche of 
stones, vulture after vulture came hurtling down from the 
dizzy heights. The last had hardly reached their goal when we 
saw the smoke rise from the rock-battery, and a swift dis- 
persion and wild disorder in the ranks of the great birds were 
the immediate consequences of the shot. 
With the help of the glass I saw a hard-hit vulture rolling 
down over the stones, and Osman soon appeared in pursuit of 
it; and as the other hungry fellows would not leave the spot, 
but kept circling round it, I hurried up the narrow rocky path 
which led to the ambush as fast as I could. 
The Grand Duke had killed at a single shot five enormous 
vultures, having taken them just at the moment when their 
heads were all huddled together over the carcass ; and as this 
great heap of birds was now lying in the little battery, one 
R 
