BLACK VULTURE 



he was brought to the Cabin, in the carriage. A woman was hired 

 to feed him until my return, when he was taken back to the 

 swamp. There is no way of adequately describing what .we 

 endured for that series of pictures. 



The birds were friendly, the male especially, and responded 

 beautifully to our advances. From Little Chicken just before he 

 stood to walk, I secured the study here given, which covers every 

 natural history point possible to one photograph, even the tongue. 

 The baby was obliging about posing, while in two weeks he an- 

 swered to his name and took food from my hand as readily as 

 from his mother. When he was almost full-grown with only 

 a trace of down showing around his ears, he would follow me 

 across the swamp with his queer rocking walk, humping his shoul- 

 ders and ducking his head; looking so uncanny in that dark weird 

 place, he made me think of witches and goblins. 



The last time I saw him was late in October. He fol- 

 lowed me to the edge of the Limberlost, so I turned and made this 

 picture, used as a tailpiece, when his wings were raised for a 

 sweep that carried him skyward to his parents. That season 

 the Limberlost yielded me the only complete series of Vulture 

 studies ever made, dozens of studies of other birds, material for the 

 book " Freckles," more natural history stuff than could be put in-' 

 to several big volumes, many rare specimens and much priceless 

 experience in swamp work, for all of which I acknowledge my in- 

 debtedness to Mr. Holds, to Little Chicken, and to the Deacon. 



The following season, having become familiar with the Swamp 

 and therefore indifferent to its annoyances and dangers, I pre- 

 pared myself suitably to meet them, and went as often as I chose. 

 I hoped this pair of Vultures would return, and I am very sure 

 they did; but finding the only favourable nesting location gone, 

 they moved nearly a mile away, to our farm, where they 

 were investigating a hollow log, when our farmer, not kimu- 



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