THE ENDLESS VELDT 143 



They were as blue and clear as it was possible to be 

 and minute search failed to reveal a single bird. Every- 

 thing was hot and quiet, the hum of the insects and 

 the distant barking of the zebras being the only sounds. 

 Taking a careful rest, I killed a zebra stallion who was 

 standing at about three hundred yards. As the bal- 

 ance of the herd ran away in panic, I noted the time 

 by my watch. Ten minutes later by using the binoc- 

 ulars I could see afar off the circhng of many birds. 

 As I watched, they began to move faster and faster. 

 I remained perfectly hidden, and soon they were close 

 enough for me to recognize as vultures. A few moments 

 more and they came dropping out of the sky like 

 bombs out of an airplane. Upon reaching a certain 

 height, they would fold their wings and fall at tremen- 

 dous speed toward earth, making a loud hissing noise as 

 their bodies hurtled downward. When they had almost 

 reached the ground, they would extend their wings, 

 circle a couple of times, and make a beautiful landing. 

 Thirty-five minutes after the zebra was shot, several 

 score vultures and a few marabou storks were standing 

 in a solemn ring around the carcass ; and before another 

 five minutes had elapsed, the boldest bird had taken a 

 bite at him to see if he were really dead. 



The vultures of Africa are one of the phenomena of 

 nature to me. I had often wondered about their 

 appearance seemingly from nowhere, and had decided 

 ypon this experiment in order to ascertain the time 

 which would elapse between the death of an animal 

 and their arrival. There must always be vultures 

 scouting beyond the range of human vision, their 

 keen eyes making it possible for them to spot an 

 animal as soon as it becomes lifeless. 



