20 The Oologists' Record, March i, 1922. 



far away across the open veldt, the tree containing it standing on 

 the edge of some sparsely growing low scrub. This tree offered no 

 difficulty in climbing, a slow " leg up " being sufficient — as it was an 

 ancient and stunted one, having few branches to impede my ascent • 



The nest was similar to those previously examined, though not 

 quite so bulky, and contained a single white egg, but this without 

 doubt belonged to the common Kolb's Vulture. Why this particular 

 pair of birds chose such an extraordinarily low situation I find it 

 hard to conceive, and can but presume that they were young and 

 inexperienced in site-selecting. 



The larger raptores, as remarked above, usually evince great care 

 as to the safet}^ of their nesting-sites, and several members of this 

 group of birds are gregarious in their habits. This is also the case 

 with certain of the lesser members, which usually, Uke their larger 

 relatives, nest within the circumscribed area of a precipice, ruined 

 building or group of kopjes. The remainder of this family prefer 

 the solitude of mountain, plain, marsh or forest, and hustle off avian 

 intruders, such as crows, etc., from within a considerable distance 

 of their nesting quarters. Many birds, including the above species, 

 frequently show a decided preference for certain localities or rather 

 nesting sites which, after being plundered or disturbed, are deserted 

 for safer ones, although they may return should persecution cease. 

 A similar colony of Common Vultures to that which I have already 

 described existed, and may perhaps still continue to do so, within 

 no great distance from Pretoria, and one enormous nest with the 

 bough containing it is exhibited in the Museum there, together with 

 its tenant — a well-fledged young vulture almost ready to fiy. 



Natives find no great difficulty in capturing them alive should 

 any carrion, in the shape of a dead mule or ox, etc., be lying about 

 not too close to a kraal or village. These great birds, so ungainly- 

 looking on the ground, will unsuspectingly place their feet within 

 the noose of a stout cord cunningly fixed close to, or even inside, 

 the carcase. 



They may be captured, also, after a heavy gorge of offal, when 

 many find it impossible to rise from the earth. 



In captivity they do well, but are undoubtedly more interesting 

 to the ordinary bird-observer or naturalist to observe in a wild state 

 than as savage pets. Anyone who carefully notes the flight of a 

 vulture, as it sails round in wide circles high in the air, will observe 

 that the first two primaries of each wing act slightly and indepen- 



