1438 The Zoologist — November, 1868. 



would at once be observed and imitated by every vulture in succession. 

 Should one vulture nearest the earth perceive a body, or even should 

 he notice the buzzards collecting at a given point, he would at once 

 become aware of a prey ; his rush towards the spot would'act like a 

 telegraphic signal to others, that would be rapidly communicated to 

 every vulture at successive airy stations. 



" If an animal be skinned the red surface will attract the vultures in 

 an instant; this proves that their sight and not their scent has been 

 attracted by an object that suggests blood. I have frequently watched 

 them when I have shot an animal, and my people have commenced 

 the process of skinning. At first not a bird has been in sight, as 

 1 have lain upon my back and gazed into the spotless blue sky ; but 

 hardly has the skin been half withdrawn, than specks have appeared 

 in the heavens, rapidly increasing. 'Caw, caw,' has been heard 

 several times from the neighbouring bushes ; the buzzards have swept 

 down close to my people, and have snatched a morsel of clotted blood 

 from the ground. The specks have increased to winged creatures, at 

 the great height resembling flies, when presently a rushing sound 

 behind me, like a whirlwind, has been followed by the pounce of a red- 

 faced vulture that has fallen from the heavens in haste with closed 

 wings to the bloody feast, followed quickly by many of his brethren. 

 The sky has become alive with black specks in the far-distant blue, 

 with wings hurrying from all quarters. At length a coronet of steady, 

 soaring vultures, forms a wide circle far above, as they hesitate to 

 descend, but continue to revolve around the object of attraction. The 

 great bare-necked vulture suddenly appears. The animal has been 

 skinned, and the required flesh secured by the men ; we withdraw a 

 hundred paces from the scene. A general rush and descent takes 

 place ; hundreds of hungry beaks are tearing at the offal. The great 

 bare-necked vulture claims respect among the crowd; but another 

 form has appeared in the blue sky, and rapidly descends. .A pair of 

 long, ungainly legs, hanging down beneath the enormous wings, now 

 touch the ground, and Abou Seen (father of the teeth or beak, the 

 Arab name for the Marabou) has arrived, and he stalks proudly 

 towards the crowds, pecking his way with his long bill through the 

 struggling vultures, and swallows the lion's share of the repast. Abou 

 Seen, last but not least, had arrived from the highest region, while the 

 others had the advantage of the start. This bird is very numerous 

 through the Nile tributaries of Abyssinia, and may generally be seen 

 perched upon the rocks by the water-side, watching for small fish, or 



