the Trans- Vaal Territory. 287 



jackals, wolves, and Caffres, who watch the Vultures* flight, 

 and are there almost as soon as themselves. I may notice that 

 the Caffres are no more afraid of a lion than we are of a dog, 

 and coolly drive him away from his food*, frequently with 

 nothing in their hand but a small stick. The Vultures were 

 breeding all along the banks of the river, placing their nests on 

 the tops of the highest trees so as to be quite inaccessible ; at 

 least I could find neither white nor black who would risk his 

 neck at the height perhaps of a hundred or a hundred and fifty 

 feet to get me the eggs, though I offered high rewards. 



[The South-African race of this Vulture, perhaps, differs 

 sufiiciently from the nearly allied Northern race to be considered 

 specifically distinct, in which case it should bear the name of 

 Gyps kolhii (Daud.).— J. H. G.] 



2. (L. 5.) VuLTUR AURicuLARis, Daud. Sociable Vulture. 

 These birds place their nests on the upper branches of rather 



low thorn trees : the nest is composed of coarse sticks on the 

 outer layers, and finer towards the inner ; it is lined with more 

 or less wool and coarse matted lumps of dirty hair, much of it 

 probably vomited by the bird after its meals ; the structure is 

 about four feet in diameter, and sHghtly concave. I examined 

 two nests in the month of July, each containing one egg, which 

 in both cases was much incubated : these nests were situated on 

 low trees on the banks of a river in the Free State. 



3. (L.4.) VuLTUR OCCIPITALIS, Burch. Occipital Vulture. 

 The nes't of this Vulture almost exactly resembles that of 



the last, and is placed in similar situations ; the birds also breed 

 at the same time, and lay but one egg. 



The egg sent was much incubated, and was taken in the 

 month of July. 



[The egg here mentioned was forwarded by Mr. Ayres to 

 Mr. Tristram, who informs me that " it is white with a few faint 

 brown cloudings, is thinner in texture than most other Vultures^, 

 and decidedly more elongated, resembling rather a Condor's 

 in its shape. Greater axis 3*9375 in., lesser axis 2"6875 in." — 

 J.H.G.] 



* Cf. Moft'at's 'Missionary Labours,' ed. 1842, p. 141. 



