444 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



carcase — that of a large calf — suddenly shake violently, evidently 

 dragged about by some powerful animal, I concluded that a dog 

 had found it out. To make sure, however, I turned the camera 

 slightly, and saw, to my surprise, a large Griffon energetically 

 attacking the farther end. I was amazed to see with what 

 apparent ease the bird could move such a heavy object. 



The next morning I was in position at an early hour, and 

 soon heard the "swish-swish" of heavy wings beating the air, 

 and the croaks of Vultures assembling for the feast. Then they 

 began to descend, until there were over thirty Griffons, and one 

 Black Vulture (Vuliur monachus), in a dense and seething mass 

 of hissing, grunting birds, each one tearing off and gulping 

 down as quickly as possible huge lumps of flesh and entrails. 

 In the short space of an hour, or perhaps a little more, the 

 whole of the calf had disappeared, and the birds one by one 

 began to flap heavily away, leaving the Magpies and Crows to 

 pick up the smaller fragments and clean up the bones. 



During this extraordinary scene I had been busy exposing 

 plate after plate, until I had used my whole stock of eighteen, 

 with but faint hopes, however, of success ; for, most unfortu- 

 nately, the morning was exceptionally dull, heavy rain-clouds 

 obscuring the light of the sun. My misgivings proved to be 

 only too well-founded, all of the negatives being hopelessly 

 under-exposed. 



Another day at the end of March I was rather more success- 

 ful in results. After photographing several Eavens and Hoodies, 

 two Kites (Milvus regalis) appeared together, and remained some 

 little time, giving me several chances. Then an Egyptian 

 Vulture {Neophron percnopterus) came into view of the lens, and 

 there were quickly nine of these birds quarrelling and fighting 

 over the tit-bits. A single Griffon also came, but departed before 

 I could get a chance to photograph it. Then suddenly appeared 

 in the middle of the carcase an immature Sea-Eagle {Halia'etus 

 albicilla). 



The Neophrons retired to a respectful distance while his 

 majesty dined. It was a splendid sight to see this noble- 

 looking bird stare around him in majestic fashion if any of the 

 Vultures presumed to approach too closely ; and, though he did 

 not disdain to dine off carrion, it was done in a most dignified 



