GRIFFON VULTURE. 7 



of 70° to 75° ^'ith the horizon. For about two thirds of its height it 

 is as smooth as a wall, and ofiPers no facilities for nesting. Above this 

 the cliff becomes more broken; numerous long vertical fissures and 

 caverns are to be seen extending to within a few yards of the top, which 

 is a mass of huge crags and boulders heaped one on the other, with a 

 dense jungle of palmetto, aloes, &c. growing out of every cranny and 

 making it quite inacessible. We decided that we M'ould commence our 

 attack from the left flank of the cliff, which seemed to offer some facilities 

 for ascent in the shape of several broken ledges running across the face 

 of (he cliff at about an angle of 45°. 



" Having worked our way through a densely wooded ravine, we at length 

 found ourselves at the foot of the cliff. After several ineffectual climbs 

 through palmettoes and thorns of eveiy description, we had the luck to hit 

 upon a narrow ledge leading towards the middle of the cliff. Following 

 this for some fifty yards or more, we arrived at a small grassy terrace 

 terminating abruptly in a precipice, and situated between the main cliff 

 and a huge semidetached crag. From this point we could sec the whole 

 face of the cliff, and far away above us several Griffon Vultures basking 

 in the sun. 



"As it was impossible to advance further, my friend decided to wait at 

 this spot, whilst I retraced my steps and tried to find some means to 

 ascend higher. After one or two ineffectual attempts I at length suc- 

 ceeded in climbing up almost on a level with the part of the cliff most 

 frequented by the Griffons ; and several of them took wing. My friend, 

 now far below me, fired his revolver, when a number of splendid old 

 birds dashed out of the small caves to my front and above me. I was 

 almost in despair, as I was at last nearly within reach of my long-coveted 

 prize, and yet apparently it was hopeless to proceed any further ; but 

 having escaladed the stratified portion of the cliff I found myself on a ledge 

 at the entrance to a chasm. Climbing up this, the strata became more and 

 more clearly defined, until the whole surface of the cliff was made up of 

 a mass of horizontal ledges from one to three inches in thickness. Owing 

 to the general slope of the cliff, I found it was quite practicable to sidle 

 along many portions of the actual face of the great precipice. Keeping 

 a firm grip with ray fingers on strata above me, my bare feet obtaining 

 support from the lower tiers of strata, I soon reached a ledge commanding 

 the main nesting-place; and on looking down over a projecting spur I saw 

 right into a large nest about ten feet below me ! Between me and it the 

 rock became vertical, and I was unable to descend. I think that I had 

 now gone beyond the stage of counting the cost; for I scrambled round to 

 the opposite side of the nest, and, having reached a spot about six feet over 

 it, I somehow slipped down right into it with a foot on each side. I was 

 quite exhausted from the climb and the excitement, and sat down by 



