. Bird-hunting through wild Europe . ould flit across and alighton the carcase, soon to be followed by others untilquite a number would be collected together. Thenthe Hooded Crows would begin to arrive. Presentlythe deep guttural croak of a Raven from the summitof some tree near at hand would tell me that one ofthese birds had made its appearance, and after it hadsatisfied itself that all was safe it would fly down andadvance with long hops to the feast. Sometimes Ihad from six to a dozen of these birds in front of meat a time, and could often hear them on the tree-trunk within a few inches of
. Bird-hunting through wild Europe . ould flit across and alighton the carcase, soon to be followed by others untilquite a number would be collected together. Thenthe Hooded Crows would begin to arrive. Presentlythe deep guttural croak of a Raven from the summitof some tree near at hand would tell me that one ofthese birds had made its appearance, and after it hadsatisfied itself that all was safe it would fly down andadvance with long hops to the feast. Sometimes Ihad from six to a dozen of these birds in front of meat a time, and could often hear them on the tree-trunk within a few inches of my head. At timesthey made a curious bubbling kind of note, whichmight almost be called a song, accompanied withmuch puffing of the throat and long throat-feathers. One day at the end of March I had anotherinteresting experience in this same tree. Afterphotographing several Magpies, Hoodies, andRavens, two Kites (Milvus regalis) appearedtogether, and remained some little time, giving meseveral chances. Then an Egyptian Vulture came. * < <o o THROUGH WILD EUROPE 231 into view of the focusing screen, and werequickly nine of these handsome birds quarrelling andfighting over the calf. A single Griffon also came,but departed before I could get a plate in. Thensuddenly appeared on the carcase a Sea Eagle,an immature bird. All the Neophrons and Ravens retired to arespectful distance while his majesty dined. It wasa splendid sight to see this noble-looking bird drawhimself up and stare around him in disdain if any ofthe Vultures presumed to approach him too he condescended to dine off carrion itwas done in a most dignified manner, with none ofthe gulping and gobbling so characteristic of theVultures. The further use of this useful hiding-place wasbrought to an end by ploughing being commencedby my hosts in the field, and it was useless to expectVultures, let alone any more Eagles, to come to dogs also, which had followed the men, had bynow found it o
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