Death. 1 39 



permit him to enter their circle. When dragged past 

 another of his companions in misfortune, who was lying 

 exhausted on the ground, he flew upon him and attempted 

 to fasten his teeth in his head ; this was the only instance 

 of viciousness which occurred during the progress of the 

 corral. When tied up and overpoAvered, he was at first 

 noisy and violent, but soon lay down peacefully, a sign, 

 according to the hunters, that his death was at hand. 

 Their prognostication proved to be correct ; he continued 

 for about twelve hours to cover himself with dust like the 

 others, and to moisten it with water from his trunk ; but 

 at length he sunk exhausted, and died so calmly, that 

 having been moving but a few moments before, his death 

 was only perceived by the myriads of black flies by which 

 his body was almost instantly covered, although not one 

 was visible a moment before. ^ The Rodiyas were called 



' The surprising faculty of vultures the existence of matter suited to their 

 for discovering carrion, has been a purposes, and the speed with which 

 subject of much speculation, as to whe- they hurry to it from all directions; 

 ther it be dependent on their power of often from distances as extraordinary, 

 sight or of scent. It is not, however, proportionably, as those traversed by 

 more mysterious than the unerring cer- the eye of the vulture. In the instance 

 tainty and rapidity with which some of of the dying elephant referred to above, 

 the minor animals, and more especially life was barely extinct when the flies, of 

 insects, in warm climates congregate which not one was visible but a moment 

 around the offal on which they feed. before, arrived in clouds and blackened 

 Circumstanced as they are, they must the body by their multitude ; scarcely 

 be guided towards their object mainly an instant was allowed to elapse for the 

 if not exclusively by the sense of smell ; commencement of decomposition ; no 

 but hat which excites astonishment is odourof putrefaction could be discerned 

 the small degree of odour which seems by us who stood close by ; yet some 

 to suffice for the purpose ; the subtlety peculiar smell of mortality, simulta- 

 and rapidity with which it traverses and neously with parting breath, must have 

 impregnates the air ; and the keen and summoned them to the feast. Ants ex- 

 quick perception with which it is taken hibit an instinct equally surprising. 

 up by the organs of those creatures. I have sometimes covered up a particle 

 The instance of the scavenger beetles of refined sugar with paper on the cen- 

 has been already alluded to ; the tre of a polished table ; and counted 

 promptitude with which they discern the number of minutes which would 



