260 Life and Immortality. 
limping gait, proving to be lame. Great consideration was 
shown the disabled one by the others, who permitted him to 
feed first, while they stood aside until he had satisfied his 
hunger, when, without the least bit of ceremony, or the least 
indication of ill-nature or selfishness, they too set to work, 
finishing in quick order whatever edible was left of the dead 
animal. Their actions after feeding were exactly the counter- 
part of those of the parents. Having finished their toilet, 
the three sought the rail by the side of the father, where, like 
their illustrious heads, they were soon occupied with the 
most self-satisfying thoughts, utterly oblivious, as it seemed, 
of time and surroundings. 
More than an hour was thus spent in drowsy meditation, 
when, as by common consent, they all, one after the other, 
leaped to the ground, where they busied themselves preening 
their feathers and preparing for departure. The time being 
ripe, the female set the example. With a run ofa half-dozen 
yards to gain a good start, she was soon on the wing, and in 
fifteen minutes or more was lost in the ether. The male fol- 
lowed suit, and when he had vanished from sight, the young, 
one after another, mounted the atmosphere, and gradually 
circling their way through its limitless depths, were also soon 
lost to the earth-chained beholder. 
Concluding this brief chapter of bird-history, we have 
a few brief comments to make. To the uninitiated in 
science matters, the statements just made must seem well 
nigh incredible. But there were other witnesses of the facts, 
just and reliable observers, too, whose testimony could be 
appealed to, to settle all doubts of their authenticity. From 
all that has been said, it cannot but be evident that the female 
was the acknowledged head of the family, a sort of feathered 
autocrat, whose will was the law by which the family was 
governed. Even the male, who did not always respect her 
authority, especially where her interests conflicted with his 
own, was made to see that might makes right when con- 
fronted with her stronger and more powerful nature. But it 
