338 
KOODOO. — SACRED VULTURE. 
26, 27 Sept. 
were out the whole day, but without success. This, which is a 
handsome animal, is one of the larger antelopes; and is distinguished 
by long spiral horns, * and several transverse white stripes over the 
loins. 
26tJi. At two in the afternoon, the heat was 93° (33° '8 C), yet 
not finding it unpleasant, I was tempted to take a walk up the 
valley in which we were stationed; but the rays of the sun, 
reverberated from the rocks, soon forced me home to take shelter 
from them, in the shade of the waggon. 
21 th. At this place I met with a bird exactly the same as the 
common Kestrel of Europe f ; it was called by the Dutch name of 
Kleine Roode Valk, (Little Red Falcon). Here also I first saw a large 
white bird which bore the name of Witte Kraai (White Crow) ; and, 
from its habits and manners, and even its appearance while on the 
wing, it might merit the name. Sailing in the air in great numbers, 
it is seen a constant attendant near the abodes of men, where it 
descends to feed on carrion and offal. Nor does it appear to be dis- 
turbed by the presence of man or dogs, at least at a certain distance ; 
but, on a nearer approach, they slowly take wing, and mount into the 
air. While flying over my head, I several times fired at them with 
swan-shot, which had no more effect than that of bringing down a 
few of the smaller feathers. In an excursion to-day, in which I 
took Philip with me, we perceived several feeding on a dead sheep, 
in a spot where the surrounding bushes enabled us to get within 
musket-shot; and by an excellent aim, he brought one of them 
down with a bullet. Till then, I had not discovered that it was a 
Vulture ; but on bringing it home to the waggons, and comparing 
it with the descriptions of the different species, it proved to be the 
Vultur percnopterus, or the Sacred Vulture of Egypt. Contrary to 
received opinion, however, I found, depending on their anatomy, that 
But the Hottentots are much amused at the awkwardness of the boors, in pronouncing 
it without a strong clap at the beginning. 
* See a representation of them at the end of chapter XV. 
\ Falco Tinnunculus. 
