44 
Mr. H. T. TJssher on the 
and is much protected by the natives on account of its utility 
in removing carrion &c. It is in consequence rarely mo¬ 
lested and is very tame, stalking about houses and kitchens 
and picking up the offal. It possesses prodigious capacity 
of scent, and it appears to possess an instinct leading it to an¬ 
ticipate prey. On the occasion of the fight with the natives 
in June 1870, on the river Yolta, I observed these birds col¬ 
lecting and settling in large numbers about the scene of con¬ 
flict; and although the town of Daffo doubtless contained 
considerable numbers before the action, I noticed a great 
many coming from long distances and at great heights. On 
the next day they could be seen half a dozen together perched 
on the same corpse, making their hideous meal, and doubtless 
for days afterwards. 
2. Gypohiekax angolensis (Gm.): Sharpe, Ibis, 1872, p. 72. 
Yery common on lagoons and rivers on the Gold Coast and 
other parts of Western Africa. It is usually observed on some 
commanding stand or point of vantage overlooking the water, 
not unfrequently with its wings outspread, as if drying them 
in the sun (resembling in this respect the ordinary Carrion- 
Vulture of the Gold Coast, Neophron pileatus ). 
Its flight is slow and heavy, and its habits mostly solitary, 
although I have noticed several following in the wake of a 
steamer in company with Milvus parasiticus, and disputing 
with the latter any refuse thrown overboard from the vessel. 
I have also seen this bird stoop at living prey. Having come 
across the haunt of a leopard in the vicinity of Lagos, I tied 
up a small kid in the middle of the bush and stationed my¬ 
self in ambush at a small distance from the animal, in the 
hope of attracting the leopard. In a short time the kid 
showed signs of uneasiness and fear, and with a tremendous 
rush and swoop a large bird stooped at the little creature, 
twice as heavy as itself. I gave it the contents of one barrel 
of buck-shot and killed it, when to my surprise I found it to 
be a fine specimen of G. angolensis. 
e 
3. Helotarsus^caujdatus (Hand.): Hartl. p. 7. 
I have seen one specimen of this bird in confinement at 
