276 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



purpose of carrying down baggage from Simla to the plains, and, as a matter of course, 

 several had died on the way. 



" One which I found on the roadside was surrounded by crowds of these vultures. 

 On going up to examine it, I disturbed about forty of them, most of which flew up 

 into the neighboring trees. On going near the carcass, I was surprised to hear a rum- 

 bling noise proceeding from its inside. There was a good-sized hole dug out by the 

 bills of these birds in the neck of the carcass, and also another near its anus, while the 



( ' ' ' 



V - .. 





FIG. 129. Gyps ruppelli, liiippell's vulture. 



stomach was swollen out and distended as if with air. On hitting this with my stick 

 it appeared to be filled out by something inside, and in a few minutes, to my great 

 astonishment, I found that there were more vultures, all alive, inside the carcass ! 

 Two following each other in quick succession shortly afterwards walked out through 

 the hole in the neck of the bullock, and the first immediately flew off to a neighboring 

 tree, whilst the other was so gorged he could not do more than waddle off to a rock 

 close by, on which he sat, whilst I left him and concluded my journey." 



