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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. Wliile 

 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, save 

 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 a 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 Spri7igbocks, 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 had in contemplation, it 

 was impossible to avoid admiring the grandeur and sublimity 

 of its progress. Wlien the electric fluid shot from the 

 clouds down to the earth, it was in single tremulous streams, 

 of a bright purple tinge; but when it darted across the 



