1812. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE LINONG. 
329 
superior ; and all, to man. In him terminates this scale of rapine 
and destruction ; in him, this graduated tyranny reaches its height. 
To return to the subject ; we shot one of these vultures : it was 
a female, and measured seven feet from the point of one wing to that 
of the other, when extended. The top of the head was covered with 
a white feathery wool, which at the back part was longer, and stood in 
a reversed position. This bird was of a blackish brown color above ; 
but the thighs and under parts of the body and neck were white. The 
quill feathers, and those of the tail, were black. That part of the 
neck, which was bare, together with the base of the beak, were white ; 
the beak and feet were of flesh-color ; the bare part round the eyes, 
white; and the irides, of the color of burnt-umber. Before the skin 
was taken off, I made a drawing of the head : this is given in the 
vignette at page 310, in the proportion of one third of the natural 
size. By the Bichuanas, it is called Lindng.'^ 
The operation of preparing this bird for my collection was 
exceedingly disgusting, and the Hottentot whom I employed to assist 
me, suffered as much as myself from its naturally putrid smell. We 
were unable to continue long at the work, as it soon began to excite 
a nausea ; and it was not till the second day that it was completed. 
^ The tire, or iron band, round the zvheels of all Cape-made wag- 
gons, being of one entire piece, possesses, indeed, the advantages of 
strength and security, but it is at the same time liable to the dis- 
advantage of expansion in hot weather ; while the fellies, if not made 
of wood perfectly seasoned, are contracted by the same cause. The 
consequence of which is, that the joints open, and the tire becomes 
loose in every part ; a serious imperfection in vehicles for travelling 
over a wild and pathless country, where the assistance of a waggon- 
maker, or a blacksmith, is not to be obtained. In the midst, there- 
* Vultur occipitalis, B. (Mtis.) Corpus, supra fusco-nigrum, subtus album. Caput 
lanugine alba tectum, occipitali revei'sa. Colli pars superior nuda, posterior plumis 
patentibus nigi'is, et anterior depi'essis brevissimis albis, tectae. Remiges rectricesque 
nigrae, rachidibus supra nigris subtus albis. Tibiae (femora) plumis albis dense vestitae. 
Rostrum et pedes, incarnata. Orbita denudata, colli pars, et cera, alba. Ungues nigri. 
Lingua brevis Integra, apice rotundata, basi sagittata laciniata. 
VOL. II. U U 
