340 ARRIVAL OF VULTURES AT A PREY. 



float, so to speak, on a sea of air, as securely as a 

 water bird resting upon the glassy surface of a lake 

 composes itself to take its natural repose. This strange 

 power seems to be common to all birds of prey, which 

 have to be constantly on the wing while watching the 

 earth beneath in search of food, and it is shared by 

 many sea-birds which do the same by hovering over 

 the waters of the deep. The flight of the sea-gull for 

 instance, as it follows a powerful steamer for miles> 

 on the chance of something being thrown overboard, 

 is surely the perfection of grace and skilful balancing, 

 but the floating on air without using the wings is 

 less continuously maintained by sea-gulls than by regular 

 birds of prey, such as eagles or vultures. 



We have always regarded the description given by 

 Sir Samuel Baker of the arrival of vultures in the 

 Soudan, from enormous altitudes, as soon as an animal 

 has been shot, as one of the finest passages in his 

 book. We therefore quote it in all its principal details 

 for the benefit of our readers: 



" It is an interesting sight (he says) to witness the arrival 

 of vultures at the death of an animal, when a few moments 

 before not a bird has been in sight in the cloudless sky. I 

 have frequently lain down behind a bush to watch the arrival 

 of the various species of birds in regular succession 

 No. i. The black and white crow. 



No. 2. The common buzzard. It will stoop at a piece 

 of red cloth in mistake for flesh : thus proving 

 that it depends more on the vision than on scent. 

 No. 3. The red-faced vulture. 

 No. 4. The large bare-throated vulture. 

 No. 5. The marabou stork sometimes accompanied by 



the adjutant. 

 Vultures and the marabou stork fly at enormous altitudes. 



