has no soul. Laziness, gluttony, uncleanness, 

 have destroyed everything spiritual in him. He 

 has almost lost his language, so that now, even 

 among his own kind, except when surprised, he 

 is silent. But he needs no language, for he is not 

 companionable ; there is no trace of companion- 

 ableness in his nature. He seems entirely de- 

 void of aifection and fellow-feeling, showing no 

 interest whatever in any one or anything save his 

 stomach. The seven evil spirits of the dyspeptic 

 possess him, body and soul. 



It must be added, however, that the buzzards 

 are to some extent gregarious. They often fly 

 together, roost together, and nest in communities. 

 In this latter fact some naturalists would find 

 evidence of sociability ; but this manner of nest- 

 ing is not their habit. They more generally 

 nest a single pair to a swamp. When they nest 

 in communities, it is rather because the locality 

 is suitable than from any desire to be together. 

 Yet they frequently choose the same dead tree, 

 or clump of trees, for a roost, which may me^n 

 that even in a buzzard's bosom there is something 

 that calls for companionship. 



For a nesting-place the buzzard selects a swamp 

 [ .332 ] 



