Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/96141
Sarasota News Leader November 30, 2012 Despite the Bachmans' generous bucketful — or gallon — of mullet a day, the herons were observed "like pointer dogs" perched over garden flowers in the early morning hours, striking with a "well-directed stroke of their bill" at fluttering moths and butterflies and swallowing them in great numbers. They also went after the Bachmans' chickens and speared and ate them. Soon, the grounds being devoid of tasty poultry, these herons proceeded to hunt the pheasants, geese "and ducks on the property, which they would tear up and devour." Page 63 was then that Audubon noted, "At last they began to pursue the younger children of my worthy friend, who therefore ordered them to be killed." Truthfully, as scholars are often themselves "beings of another world," I believe the practical Mrs. Bachman, not the Rev. Bachman, personally saw to their disposal. One was carefully preserved, stuffed and sent to the Museum of Charleston. As for its mate: I assume that Mrs. Bachman made a superb meal out of it. Audubon also describes how the Bachmans' As Audubon commented, they are good eating cat, "which was asleep in the sunshine, on if not too old. the wooden steps of the veranda, was pinned So, Alexis, I think that pretty much answers through its body to the floor boards and killed your question as to what they eat and why and devoured by one of them." their attention is riveted on your oak tree: EiThis slaughter continued for several months ther your neighbor's cat is stuck up there again until the pickings on the Bachman property or children are playing in their treehouse. were pretty slim for this exotic pair of gourOtus mands with their highly developed umami. It Manuel R. Chepote, LUTCF Chepote Insurance Inc. • Allstate Agent 1300 Main Street • Sarasota, Florida (941) 366-0100 Serving Sarasota & Manatee Counties Auto • Home • Life • Renters • Motorcycles Flood • Business • Annuities • Financial Services Click for driving directions Click to watch the latest TV ad agents.allstate.com/manuel-r-chepote-sarasota-fl.html