314 Dr. J. Kirk on the Birds of the Zambesi Region. 



The African possesses but few domestic birds and other ani- 

 mals. The Fowl is universal, but commonly small and tasteless. 

 One tribe met with in the interior had discovered the art of 

 making capons, and practised it with great success. 



Besides the Domestic Fowl, Pigeons and Guineafowl are seen 

 tame, the former of a breed similar to the tame Pigeons of Egypt. 

 The Guineafowl is never permanently domesticated, refusing to 

 breed in captivity. 



Fam. VULTURIDiE. 



1. Gyps fulvus (Gm.). 



Common in the Zambesi delta in November and December. 

 Known as the " Tumbao-zo,'' or the Opener of Elephants, being 

 supposed to be the only bird capable of penetrating the hide of 

 the dead animal. The Common Vulture (the brown Neophron) 

 may be seen patiently waiting for days the bursting, by decom- 

 position, of the carcase. 



To the inexperienced hunter the Gyps is a great annoyance. 

 If game be left for an hour in the open plain while the men 

 come to carry it oflf, the birds will descend, and in a very short 

 time completely devour it. This is not so if it be covered over 

 with a little grass or with branches, clearly proving that sight 

 alone is the sense by which the birds discover their prey. If 

 part of the animal be exposed, it matters not — probably owing 

 to its being mistaken for one asleep ; nor does the presence of 

 blood seem to guide the birds, if the carcase be concealed from 

 view. 



2. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). 



One specimen was seen in the mountains to the south of 

 Nyassa ; it was not killed, but seemed exactly to resemble the 

 Egyptian Vultui'c. It is a rare bird, and was nowhere else 

 observed. 



The Common Vulture, called " Deze," of which no specimen 

 was prepared, is universal ; it is a Neophron resembling the 

 common brown Vulture of the Cape. 



