1436 The Zoologist — November, 1868. 



in birds which, at different elevations, are searching earth's surface 

 for the dead and the dying. The passage is a long one, but would 

 suffer so much from abridgment that I prefer giviug it entire. 



"As 1 passed the body of the first rhinoceros, I found a regiment 

 of vultures already collected around it, while fresh arrivals took place 

 every minute, as they gathered from all quarters : they had already 

 torn out the eyes, and dragged a portion of flesh from the bullet-wound 

 in the shoulder; but the tough hide of the rhinoceros was proof 

 against their greedy beaks. A number of Marabou storks had also 

 arrived, and were standing proudly amongst the crowd of vultures, pre- 

 paring to perform the duty of sextons, when the skin should become 

 sufficiently decomposed. Throughout all the countries that I had 

 traversed these birds were in enormous numbers. A question has been 

 frequently discussed whether the vulture is directed to his prey by the 

 sense of smell or by keenness of vision ; I have paid much attention 

 to their habits, and, although there can be no question that their power 

 of scent is great, I feel convinced that all birds of prey are attracted 

 to their food principally by their acuteness of sight. If a vulture were 

 blind it would starve ; but were the nostrils plugged up with some 

 foreign substance to destroy its power of smell, it would not materially 

 interfere with its usual mode of hunting. Scent is always stronger 

 near the surface of the ground : thus hyaenas, lions and other beasts of 

 prey will scent a carcase from a great distance, provided they arc to 

 leeward ; but the same animals would be unaware of the presence of 

 the body, if they were but a short distance to windward. 



" If birds of prey trusted to their nostrils, they would keep as near 

 the ground as possible, like the carrion crow, which I believe is the 

 exception that proves the rule. It is an astonishing sight to witness 

 the arrival of vultures at the death of an animal, when a few moments 

 before not a bird has been in sight in the cloudless sky. I have 

 frequently lain down beneath a bush after having shot an animal, to 

 watch the arrival of the various species of birds in regular succession: 

 they invariably appear in the following order : — 



" No. 1, the black and white crow : this knowing individual is most 

 industrious in searching for his food, and is generally to be seen either 

 perched upon rocks or upon trees: I believe he trusts much to his 

 sense of smell, as he is never far from the ground ; at the same time he 

 keeps a vigilant look out with a very sharp pair of eyes. 

 " No. 2 is the common ouzzard : this bird, so well known lav its 



