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Althea R. Sherman,



not more than 25 feet away. A position on the roof, overlooking

the nest, was sought at once, but the nest was empty when the bird

left. Such a location was highly advantageous for study when the

nest life was in progress.


The White Scavenger Vulture at times has a woe-begone,

dishevelled appearance, as if it appreciated the contumely heaped

upon it by mankind. In view of its single shortcoming, it is a pity

that the bird cannot talk back. If it could, its reply would probably

be something like this : “ Oh, vainglorious man ! wherefore do you

cast such volumes of reproach upon me ? Am I not a faithful

spouse and a devoted parent? Do you ever see me figuring in the

divorce courts because of inconstancy, or my offspring deserted by

me, left to the tender mercies of strangers in my tribe ? Do you see

me robbing my brothers or slaying millions of them in unholy war ?

Your sole accusation against me is that I am a scavenger and not

too proud to eat human ordure ; but what living creature do I harm

by my tastes ? Certainly I take nothing that turns me into a

frenzied fiend so that I beat my mate, kill my offspring, and en¬

danger the lives or happiness of my neighbours, nor do I smoke a

filthy weed that poisons the air for every one near me. Oh, you

contemptible man ! I have seen you fill with smoke the air of a

small enclosure, where were others of your kind, men and women,

unable to escape, who were sickened and gasping in utter misery.

So I say unto you, critical man, that unless you can show more

decent taste, you have no right to criticise mine.”


Besides the White Scavenger, at least three other species of

vultures were seen: the Black or King Vulture (Otogyps calvus),

the White-backed Vulture (Pseudogyps bengalensis), and the Long¬

billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris). In most instances they were

distant about an eighth of a mile, but sometimes no more than half

of that distance. As a rule they were in desolate places—along a

river bank or about some ruin. Across the river from the Massacre

Ghat at Cawnpore were several of these birds. While using my

binoculars I saw one waiting for a dog to finish its repast. The

object being devoured looked very human, and my guide affirmed

that it was the body of a man that had drifted ashore some days

before. Two human skulls lay directly in front of the Taj Mahal on



