A Breath from the Veldt 



91 



down to steady grazing. Then they rise in the air, and after flying in a circle 

 once or twice over some likely-looking ox, they descend and settle all in a row 

 along its backbone, where they sit stolidly for a moment or two, to see if there 

 is any fear of disturbance during their coming meal. The whole party then 

 set to work and scour the entire body of the animal — a proceeding which the 

 latter seems thoroughly to appreciate, for it is no uncommon sight to see an ox 

 lying stretched out on the ground, exposing every part of his body to their 



ANY SMALL ATTENTIONS THANKFULLY RECEIVED 



The above is not an iincomnion sight whilst trekking up country. An ox will voluntarily lie on its back and expose every 



portion of its body to the ministrations of its small friends. 



administrations. When they have got all they can out of one beast they pass 

 on to another, and repeat the process till their appetite is satisfied. Old hunters 

 extol their gratitude for these feasts, declaring that when a rhinoceros or buffalo 

 bull is " at home " to these visitors, the greatest precautions must be exercised 

 in approaching the quarry, as the birds are wonderfully quick in observing the 

 presence of a man, even at a considerable distance, and the moment they see 

 him they shriek out an alarm, and away goes the beast. But not so when they 

 are engaged on domestic animals. Knowing that these are safe against any 



o 



