Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-06-11
THE YOUNG VULTURE
he is WILLING TO FIGHT BEFORE
HE is ABLE TO FLY.
The Fledgeling Has Wonderful
strength of Bill, Is Courageous ana
Aggressive and Is ms Quick Almost
an "A Flash of Lightning.

In the south there Is one bro WHICH,
everybody knows whether he Is Ma
ture student or not | refer to the
turkey vulture, or turkey buzzard, as
most people call him. This bird seems
TO be an ever present feature OF the
southern landscape, for look upward
when you will you may see him sweep
ing the sky with outslHead wings
wheeling In broad circles or soaring In
graceful spirals, with seeming never
stroke Of the mighty pinions for hours
at time.
One dav I saw a yulture sailing thus,
saws Ernest Harold Baynes in the
Boston Herald, and l carefully marked
his flight until he descended from the
white clouds and disappeared near the
edge of a distant wood. Surprising
that he had come down to feed on some
carrion-a dead horse perhaps. when
had been dragged just opts;ie 81 the
woods and left--I -;nade the best OF my
wav r. the spot where lost slght Oh
the bird, that might be witness 10
the feast.
| arrived at the wood, but neither
bird nor carcass could l see. Then
bethought me that this was the month
of May. and that perhaps the Duzzaru
had a nest thereabout. l hunted un-
der the bushes, along the side OF taiien
trees and in some old stumps which
were standing near, but not feather
was 10 be seen.
Presently | spied log which lay
somewhat apart in the shadow OF some
shrubs. and as l approached II out
from somewhere came a big turkey
buzzard, which quickly disappeared
behind the trees. On coming up 10 the
log which was large one, FOUND
that II was hollow, and in the cavity
there were two eggs. which douOtiesS
belonged to the vulture which hau just
departed. They were considerably lar
ger than the eggs Of domestic men,
and in color they were dirty Whi'e'
heavily spotted with chocolate brown
left them that l might have an OPP
portunity to study the young
The next time ! visited the hollow
log the parent birds were not in sight
but in the nest l found TWO uo"hy
fiedgelings, which could scarcely Oe
called pretty. They were in every way
less attractive than young hawks OF
the same age. They expressed thell
disapproval of my presence by weaS
growing sound.
| could not visit the spot again 1oi
some weeks, and when l did one oil
them had disappeared. The other was
no longer in the hollow log, but stahu
ing at little distance, and l was III
terested TO see the change in his ap
pearance. In the first place, he nae
grown tremendously; the down whicl
had formerly covered the whole Oou!
was now confined chiefly to the head
neck and under parts, and the rest o.
the bird was clothed with firm bIact
feathers. He looked fat and well FED.
I reached out my hand and caush
him by one wing. But here he had
surprise for me, for he seized my MI
ger in his hooked bill and with turf
of his head twisted off bit OF th'
flesh before l had time even to OBJECT
After hurriedly cleansing the wound
again advanced on the enemy, WIZ
was game enough to satisfy any on
and came to the attack with open Dill
OF course he was not dangerous III tn
least. for he was very young and coul'
not even fly, but for fedgeling tn
grip he could give with his bill wa
astonishing.
However. l picked him up, took hin
home and tethered him in the gardel
with a strap to one leg The first nigh
he ate a good meal Of liver, and afte
that he took almost any kind of mea
that was given him. | let him nav
carrion whenever ii was convenient
but at other times he ate freshly kllle
frogs, fresh beef, Opossum and eve
fish.
One night soon after l had brough
him home l went out to see how
looked when he was asleep. 1t was S
dark that his black plumage was no
visible against the grass. All | coul
see of him was white spot, his heaC
as it hung near the ground.
| approached very quietly and wa
within five feet when something hal
pened. Out of the darkness there cam
fash Of white straight toward m
with a speed which caused me to ste
quickly backward. and at the same IL
slant there was a startling. rustlin
sound. accompanied by a guttur;
erowl which for a moment l did nc
recognize as the voice of the youn
vulture
Altogether it was most startlin
phenomenon. and, although | realize
I'm moment that the bird was in SON
way the cause of it, do not kno'
even yet just what happened III
much know, however, that the biz
rushed at me, growing with all h
might. and that the flash of white Wa
the white down of the body uncovere
by the opening Of the black wings.
The rushing sound was, thin
caused in some way by the wing feat
ers or tail feathers, or both, but whetl
err by dragging them along the grour
or otherwise / cannot tell. tried
several occasions to find this out by
preaching the young vulture VINE
there was just light enough for me
see what happened. but he would new
act in just the same way unless 1t w;
quite dark.
No doubt this is some provision
nature to protect the bird when it
young and helpless, and l can testl
that it is a good one, for am sure IN
few night prowling animals would ca
to pursue their investigations after {
ing given 80 startling a reception.
EyeIets Sold by the Million.
"Eyelets," said q manufacturer, al