AUDUBON JOURNAL 



Male. Gizzard fleshy filled with wings of different In- 

 sects — Cheeks also ash col'^ My Drawing a very excel- 

 lent one — finding this Bird very Weak in the Morning 

 Killed it and put it in Whiskey — 



Monday 20**^ August — 1821 



I spent the Night Nearly in pursuit of the Wood 

 Ibiss and although I Killed One I could never find it 

 this Morning, some Fox or Racoon had No doubt a 

 good Repast of it — I saw 4 Coming, sailing & flapping 

 alternatly; their Necks & Legs strached out a little 

 over the tops of the Trees a few Moments after sun 

 Setting. No Note, they alighted on the Largest Top 

 Branches of the dead trees in a Large Cotton Planta- 

 tion, drew their Necks & Heads on their shouldiers, 

 Standing perpendicularly. Now & then arranging the 

 feathers of their breast as if to put their Immense bill 

 at Rest on it — I approach^^ them untill they Were 

 immediatly over My head, but they never minded Me, 

 its growing Dusky I shot at the Largest, it open its 

 Wings and sailed to the hearth without a groan, the 

 others raised and Sailed on Some other trees, the Dark- 

 ness of the Night then prevented My seing them any 

 More and Also forced Me to Look for the One I had un- 

 doubtedly Killed — After a Long Search this Morning 

 begun with the dawn of Day I had to return, fatigued 

 & Much Disapointed — the Planter and Negroes assured 

 Me that for Many Years these Birds some time as 



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