on Vultures and Eagles . 
417 
apparently, at least without ropes and careful arrangements, 
perfectly inaccessible from either above or below. 
According to my shikari, the Vultures breed in April 5 but 
I think that the nest contained eggs on this occasion, the 
18th of January, as a magnificent golden-headed bird came 
sailing along the face of the cliff and disappeared into the 
cave, which had evidently been used for years, the rocks 
being much soiled by the birds and their young. 
During the summer, after the snow has melted, they 
spread over the higher ranges, and I saw them far north, in 
Baltistan, Astor, and nearly to Gilgit, but not in such 
numbers as among the Outer Himalayas. Westward, I saw 
them among the Afghan Hills, and in March 1889 there 
were several about the cliffs overlooking Ali Musjid, in the 
Khyber Pass. 
The Brown Vulture (Gyps indicus ) and the white-backed 
G. bengalensis were both common round Dagshai and bred 
near that place, where on one occasion I had a great Vulture- 
afternoon—quite an “ At Home, from 3 to 5 p.m.” I placed 
a carcase on the hillside, hid near and had a close view of 
the scene which ensued. At first only a few stray Vultures 
were visible soaring above, some comparatively low down, 
others tiny specks high up against the blue sky. As usual, 
the Kites and Crows were the first arrivals, and by the 
noise and commotion they made I think attracted the 
attention of the Vultures. 
Anyhow I came to the conclusion that the carcase was 
first discovered by the lower stratum of Vultures either by 
sight or else by noticing the gathering together of the 
clamoring Crows. Then other Vultures observing from the 
maimer of the discoverers that they were off to something 
good, flocked towards them, others still higher up, still farther 
away, followed suit, the dark specks high up in the clouds 
descended nearer and nearer, till in a short time the carcase 
was alive with a struggling, squabbling mass of these huge 
birds. 
A more rare species, the Black Vulture (Otogyps calvus ), 
I found undoubtedly breeding among the Murree Hills in 
