HUNTING — FISHING — WARS AND EXPEDITIONS. 39 



when it is not possible to consider the animals as 

 accustomed to profit by it. 



In the wild regions of Africa it happens that from 

 some reason or another, perhaps from the effect of 

 lightning on immense forests, dense thickets or plains 

 covered by tall plants become the prey of gigantic 

 fires which spread as long as they find food on their 

 road. The heat as of a furnace arises above and 

 around; an acrid smoke veils everything, and the 

 frightened animals flee before the scourge. Travellers 

 who have witnessed these magnificent scenes often 

 insist on the panics thus produced, and describe the 

 inoffensive lion fleeing in the midst of a herd of 

 gazelles. All are seized by the same fear, because all 

 are exposed to the same danger. But birds, whose 

 wings can carry them at will afar from the furnace, 

 preserve greater presence of mind, and profit by the 

 public calamity and general anxiety to make a 

 successful hunt and copious feasts. One may see the 

 birds of prey flying in front of the fire and seizing 

 easy victims. Certain birds of Africa are the most 

 furious hunters during a fire. Legions of insects 

 flee far from the tall dried plants, and clouds of 

 birds arrive to throw themselves on them. They 

 pursue them with incredible audacity through the 

 smoke close to the flames and always retire in time 

 to avoid singeing. A member of the Crow family 

 who inhabits India, Anomalocorax splendens, enjoys 

 a deserved reputation of astuteness and allows no 

 opportunity to escape without seizing it by the 

 forelock. In ordinary times his food is composed of 

 very varied substances — crabs, insects, worms, etc. ; 

 but if he perceives afar an ascending cloud he 

 immediately abandons his small researches, knowing 



