EGYPTIAN VULTURES. 235 



the caravans across the desert, in the hope that something 

 in the shape of a worn-out camel may turn up to their 

 advantage. 



It is said that during the war between France and 

 England in the last century, the sharks learnt to know when 

 a naval engagement was about to take place, and would 

 assemble in the neighbourhood to be in readiness ; 

 and in a similar way it was noticed that during the 

 French occupation of Egypt, the vultures became so well 

 acquainted with the meaning of the roar of artillery that 

 they would flock together from all quarters as soon as the 

 first gun was fired.* 



Egyptian vultures are the most conspicuous birds in the 

 island of St. Vincent, and outside the town of Porto Grande 

 may be seen hunting over the heaps of refuse in company 

 with ravens and crows, or lazily perched, half-a-dozen 

 together, on the carcass of a horse or bullock which has 

 been carelessly half buried in the shingle, or, more carelessly 

 still, merely flung out of the town to pollute the air far and 

 near until these scavengers have disposed of it. Having 

 gorged themselves, according to custom, until they are 



* "It is extraordinary," writes Frank Buckland, "how soon animals 

 and birds find out where there is anything to eat. The regiment to which 

 I belong very frequently marches down to Wormwood Scrubs for field-days. 

 Upon arriving at the Scrubs I have not seen a single rook ; but the rooks 

 very soon appear : they come to pick out what they can from the dung of the 

 horses, and the bits of bread which drop out of the paper in which the men 

 carry their refreshment. The rooks always go to the place where the 

 regiment has dismounted, as there they find most to eat. These rooks 

 come, I believe, from the trees in Holland Park they certainly often arrive 

 from that direction." 



