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appeared, followed by three Pileated Vultures, those black 

 medium-sized birds with dark bald heads which belong so 

 exclusively to Africa. As I had never before seen this ex- 

 tremely repulsive species, I hastened to shoot a specimen, 

 and at the report of the gun the fellaheen came running up 

 from all quarters curious to see what I had shot and clamorous 

 for backsheesh. 



Large vultures were circling high overhead, and the best 

 time of day for this kind of shooting was just beginning, so 

 that we might have been very successful, but we had, never- 

 theless, to retire, for we could no longer keep off the people, 

 and fresh arrivals were coming up from all sides ; so we 

 signalled for the steamer to near the bank and resumed our 

 journey. 



At Ermant, which was reached in the afternoon, we had to 

 make a short halt in order to ship the famous block of granite* ; 

 and during this stoppage I had some practice at the wild 

 pigeons which were flying from side to side of the river just 

 over our vessel. One after another they came, and within a 

 short time I managed to kill forty-six of them. 



We soon started again, and by sunset were once more at 

 Luxor, and our steamer had hardly put in to the landing-place 

 below the hotel, when Khalil appeared with some saddled 

 donkeys, and several of us rode off to Karnak as fast as we 

 could along the well-known way, intending to watch for jackals 

 at various spots. 



I had taken a live fowl with me, and had sat down near one 

 of the ancient tanks on the south side of the ruins, and was 

 enjoying the beauty of the evening, and constantly twitching 

 at my hen in order that its cries might attract the jackals, 

 when, instead of these animals there unfortunately appeared 

 three Englishmen, who regarded me with amazement, but soon 

 went on their way. 



* An inscribed tablet of the time of Amenhotep II. Now in Vienna. 



