xvi THE RHINOCEROS 299 



endless wings, never fatigued by motion, as they seldom flap, but 

 only adjust themselves to the currents of air upon which they 

 float ; and having with their extraordinary powers of sight observed 

 the hurry of smaller birds to some attractive point, they have at 

 once directed their course, to fulfil the Biblical expression, 

 "Where the carcase lies, there shall the eagles (vultures) be 

 gathered together." 



The audacity of the vulture is remarkable, in countries where 

 it pursues its course undisturbed. I have known an instance 

 where, in a serious battle, in the midst of musketry and the dense 

 smoke and flame of a general conflagration, the vultures mutilated 

 the bodies of the killed before they could be carried off the field. 



Last, but not least, of all birds of carrion tastes is the adjutant. 

 When the buzzard has driven away the crow, the red-necked 

 vulture has driven off the buzzard, and the bare-necked vulture 

 has kicked out the red-necked intruder, the long-legged and 

 gigantic-beaked adjutant arrives upon the scene of turmoil, where 

 feathers, dust, and blood are mingled with the shrieking and 

 quarrelling of mixed varieties. All stand clear when the adjutant 

 appears, as the long bill delivers its pecks to the right and left, 

 and commands attention and respect. This bird, which carries 

 its supply of water in a bag beneath the bill, pendant from the 

 throat, flies at a higher altitude than any other, and arrives upon 

 the scene the last, owing to the greater distance it has been forced 

 to travel. All these birds have been necessarily directed by sight, 

 and not by the sense of smell. 



The sense of vision may be continually observed by any person 

 who has experience of countries that are full of living creatures. 

 When the grass is fired in the dry season, there may not be a bird 

 in sight, but directly that the dense volumes of black smoke 

 darken the air with rolling clouds upon the earth's surface, a great 

 variety of birds are almost immediately attracted. The buzzard, 

 the fly-catchers, and, curiously enough, the bustard (or houbara), 

 which is generally so scarce, all appear upon the dusky scene, and 

 challenge the smoke and flames, to pursue the locusts, which are 

 endeavouring to escape from the advancing fire. 



The so-called rhinoceros bird, which is supposed to afford the 

 animal some notice of approaching danger, is not confined specially 

 to that particular beast, but it is to be seen frequently picking the 

 ticks and other vermin from the backs and sides of buffaloes, as 

 starlings may be seen upon the cattle in England during the warm 

 days of summer. There is also a so-called crocodile bird, which 

 is accredited with watchful instincts in the interest of the animal 



