^. By the Stream 



Two grotesque secretary-birds and a thirsty bustard 

 had sought out the water long before the arrival of the 

 zebra herds and then Hown heavily away. Now the dead 

 branches of mighty hg-trees are btisieged by numbers 

 ot vultures ; their dark forms silhouetted against the Hamine 

 red evening sky. 



Zebras and gnus have now quenched their thirst, 



A PAIR OF LARGE VULTURES BUILT THEIR NEST NEAR MY CAMP 



when from the hills comes a breeze. It touches me gently 

 as I stand. The leader of the herd utters a loud call ; in 

 the same moment the water splashes high in the air, and 

 with a noise as of thunder the whole herd gains the river- 

 bank. Covered with a cloud of dust they clatter wildly 

 over the velt. their peculiar neigh growing fainter and 

 fainter in the distance. 



brom different points of the velt an answering 



131 



