194 
VULTURES. 
12, 13 May, 
remains of the lion's supper ; which, however, was Httle more than 
the legs. It was therefore probable that more than one lion had 
feasted upon the carcass or that a pack of jackals and hyenas, or the 
vultures, had finished the rest. 
The hunters set out early ; and it was not long before they had 
shot an eland. These unfortunate animals were not allowed to rest 
in safety either day or night, and were now pursued by more' 
formidable enemies than lions. Their flesh being, as before remarked, 
much superior in taste and in fatness, to nearly all other kinds of 
game, they were always, by preference, chased by the Hottentots, 
while other animals were passed by unmolested. 
The vultures, attracted from afar by the smell of so much meat, 
descended in great numbers, and walked around us at the distance of 
one or two hundred yards, with as much ease and familiarity as oxen 
or sheep. Accustomed as they are, to feed in society with beasts of 
prey, they appeared very little disturbed by the presence of our dogs, 
which sometimes, as if the birds had been merely strange dogs, ran to 
drive them away from the offal, which they considered as belonging 
exclusively to themselves. 
Of these birds I observed five distinct species, but not having 
shot any, I am unable to describe them with certainty. They some- 
times approached so near, that, besides the two already noticed *, I 
could distinguish two others, as being new, and probably undescribed 
species ; and which I never afterwards met with again. They both 
equalled, as well as I could, judge under such circumstances, the 
largest of the African vultures. One was entirely white, and the bare 
skin of its neck, white also : this might possibly be the female of the 
following species : of which I made a sketch. This latter was of a 
sooty black plumage ; the naked skin of the neck was of a pale rose 
color ; and the top of the head was covered with feathers of the 
same color as that of the wings and other parts of the body. Its 
♦ Vtdtur permopterus, at page 338, and the large black vulture at page 377, of the 
first volume. 
