wings appeared again, but the lily leaves pre- 
vented him from seeing to what the wings 
belonged. After watching this performance at 
intervals for a few minutes he raised his rifle and 
fired. The bullet went through one of the Buz- 
zard’s wings and cut out two of his long quill 
feathers. From the way he flew it is quite 
evident that old Bill was badly frightened for at 
least once in his life. This much certainly is 
true that he gave up trying to balance himself on 
the uncertain foundation afforded by the floating 
alligator and abandoned all idea of feasting 
here, until its body was later pulled to the shore 
by someone who wanted the teeth. 
Bill Buzzard had a mate, although he paid 
little or no attention to her except during the 
nesting season. This probably was not on 
account of her appearance, for to tell the truth 
she was an extremely homely lady-bird. Yet 
in his rough buzzard way Bill was fond of 
her. The real reason of his seeming indifference 
to her during the fall and winter was due to the 
general habit that most birds have of seeming 
to forget all about their mates until spring comes. 
his 
