36 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



It is an interesting spectacle for the naturalist to watch 

 these great birds soaring in the heavens, and to speculate on 

 the tremendous powers of vision they must possess to enable 

 them to see what is going on below them on the surface of 

 the earth from the great heights at which they slowly 

 revolve. As interesting, though somewhat repulsive, is it 

 to watch a number of them collected round a carcase and 

 fighting for a position from which they can tear out a lump 

 of flesh. Fierce pecks they give each other with their strong 

 bills, and squabble 'and push and struggle amongst them- 



selves, for all the world like a pack of unmannerly humans 

 in a low-class tavern. And then after the feast they sit 

 round on the ground, or perch on neighbouring trees, with 

 wings outspread and drooping, looking like so many drunken 

 bedraggled birds, whilst they slowly digest the mass of flesh 

 they have gorged themselves with. As soon as the mass is 

 partially digested the heavy birds take a short run along 

 the ground and launch themselves into the air, moving 

 their great heavy wings in unwieldy flaps till they have got 

 up sufficient momentum, when they rise in a straight line 

 and then slowly soar upwards in ever-widening circles. 



