44 Mr. n. T. Usshcr on the 



and is much protected by the natives on account of its utility 

 in removing can-ion &c. It is in consequence rarely mo- 

 lested and is very tame, stalking about houses and kitchens 

 and picking up the offal. It possesses prodigious capacity 

 of scentj and it appears to possess an instinct leading it to an- 

 ticipate prey. On the occasion of the fight with the natives 

 in June 1870, on the river Volta, I observed these birds col- 

 lecting and settling in large numl)ers about the scene of con- 

 flict; and although the town of Daffo doubtless contained 

 considerable numbers before the action, I noticed a great 

 many coming from long distances and at great heights. On 

 the next day they could be seen half a dozen together perched 

 on the same corpse, making their hideous meal, and doubtless 

 for days afterwards. 



2. GYPOHiERAXANGOLENsis(Gm.) : Sharpe,Ibis, 1872,p. 72. 

 Very common on lagoons and rivers on the G old Coast and 



other parts of Western Africa. It is usually observed on some 

 commanding stand or point of vantage overlooking the water, 

 not unfrequcntly with its wings outspread, as if drying them 

 in the sun (resembling in this respect the ordinary Carrion- 

 Vulture of the Gold Coast, Neophron pileatus) . 



Its flight is slow and heavy, and its habits mostly solitary, 

 although I have noticed several following in the wake of a 

 steamer in company with Milvus parasiticus, and disputing 

 with the latter any refuse thrown overboard from the vessel. 

 I have also seen this bird stoop at living prey. Having come 

 across the haunt of a leopard in the vicinity of Lagos, I tied 

 up a small kid in the middle of the bush and stationed my- 

 self in ambush at a small distance from the animal, in the 

 hope of attracting the leopard. In a short time the kid 

 showed signs of uneasiness and fear, and with a tremendous 

 rush and swoop a large bird stooped at the little creature, 

 twice as heavy as itself. I gave it the contents of one barrel 

 of buck-shot and killed it, when to my sm-prise I found it to 

 be a fine specimen of G. angolensis. *■ 



3. Helotarsus caudatus (Daud.) : Hartl. p. 7. 



I have seen one specimen of this bird in confinement at 



