204 
discharged our pieces at random among them. Two of 
them, which fell dead, we secured; but a third, though 
severely wounded, made its escape. Instead of following 
its track, we went on to a rising ground at a short distance, 
which commanded an extensive view of the plain. While 
we stood admiring the beauty of the surrounding landscape, 
animated by innumerable groupes of animals ranging at 
liberty over its waving surface, we happened to turn our 
eyes towards the spot where we had left our game; and 
observed a prodigious flock of large birds, some fluttering 
on the ground, others soaring in the air above them. We 
ran down with all speed, and approaching within forty 
or fifty yards, discovered them to be a flock of vultures 
engaged on the carcase of the buck which we had wounded. 
We instantly fired among them, but without any apparent 
effect. On examining the carcase, we found that in the 
short interval of our absence every particle of the flesh had 
been picked off the bones, and nothing left but the skeleton 
enclosed in the skin. The latter was quite uninjured, savé 
one hole in the flank, where the grain of shot had penetrated. 
Through this hole and the anus, they had contrived to push 
in their heads, and tear away the flesh and entrails. How 
exquisite must the olfactory sense of the vulture be, when, 
in the short space of half an hour, the scent of blood could 
attract so many of them towards a spot where not à bird 
could be descried at the time the animal was wounded! 
© Our success in this excursion fell, on the whole, rather 
short of our expectations. We bagged, according to the 
sporting phrase, only fourteen Springbocks, though we 
wounded many more. After wandering about for three 
days, exposed to the intemperate heat of that season, We 
bade adieu to Quagga's Plain, under the horrors of an 
impending thunder-storm. Its approach was gradual, and, 
notwithstanding the soaking we bad in contemplation, 1t 
was impossible to avoid admiring the grandeur and sublimity 
of its progress. When the electric fluid shot from the 
clouds down to the earth, it was in single tremulous streams 
inc: bright purple tinge; but when it darted across de 
