176 Mr Audubon on the Habits of the Tmlcey Buzzard. 



I approached it often bare-footed, and soon perceived that if 

 I did not accidentally make a noise, the young birds remained 

 in their silent upright attitudes, until I shewed myself to them 

 by turning to the front of their prison. I frequently fastened a 

 dead squirrel or rabbit, cut open, with all the entrails hanging 

 loosely to a long pole, and in this situation would put it to the 

 back part of the cage; but no hissing, no movement was made: 

 when, on the contrary, I presented the end of the pole, thus co- 

 vered, over the cage, no sooner would it appear beyond the edge, 

 than my hungry birds would jump against the bars, hiss furious- 

 ly, and attempt all in their power to reach the food. This was 

 repeatedly done with fresh and putrid substances, all very con- 

 genial to their taste. 



Satisfied within myself, I dropped these trials, but fed them 

 until full grown, and then turned them out into the yard of the 

 kitchen, for the purpose of picking up whatever substances 

 might be thrown to them. Their voracity, however, soon caused 

 their death : young pigs were not safe if within their reach ; and 

 young ducks, turkeys or chickens, were such a constant tempta- 

 tion, that the cook, iinable to watch them, killed them both, to 

 put an end to their depredations. 



Whilst I had these two young vultures in confinement, an 

 extraordinary occurrence took place respecting an old bird of 

 the same kind, which I cannot help relating to you. This bird 

 sailing over the yard, whilst I was experimenting with the pole 

 and squirrels, saw the food, and alighted on the roof of one of 

 the outhouses ; then alighted on the ground, walked directly to 

 the cage, and attempted to reach the food within. I approached 

 it carefully, and it hopped oif a short distance ; as I retired, it 

 returned, when always the appearances of the strongest congra- 

 tulations would take place from the young towards this new 

 comer. I directed several young negroes to drive it gently towards 

 the stable, and to try to make it go in there. This would not 

 do; but, after a short time, I helped to drive it into that part of 

 the gin-house where the cotton-seeds are deposited, and there 

 caught it. I easily discovered that the bird was so emaciated, 

 that to this state of poverty only I owed my success. I put it 

 in with the young, who both at once jumped about him, ma- 

 king most extraordinary gestures of welcome; whilst the old 



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