More interesting far than either the parents were the three black
creatures that stood upon the pine log. Fixed to the spot as though
they had grown there, with scarcely moving heads and downcast eyes they
eagerly watched the food disappearing, wondering, mayhap, as children
are prone to do, if it would all disappear before they had a chance of
testing its virtues, but maintaining their souls the while in perfect
serenity of repose. But their time had at length arrived, and down from
the log they cast themselves _instanter_, three lusty fellows as large
as the parents, but one of them, from his 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 counterpart 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 of a 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
followed 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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