The Zoologist — January, 1873. 3349 



the conduct of hounds when one has given tongue: it is no longer 

 necessary that each should hit the scent; with the majority it 

 becomes a game of " follow the leader." 



Led by tlie Nose.—"l believe naturalists are not quite agreed as to 

 whether vultures hunt by sight, by scent, or by both faculties combined. I 

 have myself no doubt that they employ the one sense as well as the other 

 in finding their prey, though I feel inclined to give sight the preference ; 

 and I had once a very striking proof of how they employ their vision in 

 guiding them to carrion, — in this instance, however, not so much by the 

 actual sight of the carrion (though the first discovery probably originated in 

 that way) as by another singular contrivance. Early one morning — as I 

 was toiling up the ascent of a somewhat elevated ridge of hills, with the view 

 of obtaining bearings for my travelling-map, and before arriving at the 

 summit — I observed several vultures desdending near me ; but thinking I 

 had merely disturbed them from their lofty perch, I did not take any 

 particular notice of their appearance, as the event was one of usual 

 occurrence ; but on gaining my destination I found that the bii'ds were not 

 coming merely from the hill-summit, but from an indefinite distance on the 

 other side. This circumstance, coupled with the recollection that I had 

 wounded a zebra on the preceding day, in the direction towards which the 

 vultures were winging their way, caused me to pay more attention. The 

 flight of the vultures was low, at least five hundred to a thousand feet below 

 the summit of the mountain ; and on arriving near the base they would 

 abruptly rise, without deviating from their direct course ; and no sooner was 

 the obstacle in their way thus surmounted than they again depressed their 

 flight. Those vultures which I saw could not have themselves seen the 

 carrion, but simply hunted in direct sight of one another. There was a 

 numerous arrival ; and although I could not always detect the next bird, as 

 soon as I lost sight of the previous one, yet, when at length it did come 

 into view, it never seemed uncertain about its course. Having finished my 

 observations I descended, and proceeded in the direction which the vultures 

 had pursued ; and after about half an hour's rapid walking, I found, as I 

 anticipated, the carcase of a zebra, with a numerous company of vultures 

 busily discussing it." — P. 3. 



The next passage, treating of the numbers of a hawk which is of 

 excessive rarity in this country, would exceed all belief, but for the 

 strictly trustworthy character of the writer. One is lost in wonder 

 in endeavouring to solve the question, " Where can such a host 

 of birds of prey find food ? " But the solution appears simple 

 when we hear it: they feed exclusively, or nearly so, on white ants 

 and locusts, and the supply of both these insects is inexhaustible. 

 SECOND SERIP:S — VOL. viii. c 



