and is proud of it. You know he hasn't a feather on it, and it is
very, very red. It was a very interesting story, and it had been
listened to with the closest attention by a lot of the little meadow
and forest people. Unc' Billy Possum, who is Ol' Mistah Buzzard's
particular friend, both having come from "way down souf," happened
along just in time to hear the end of it.

"May Ah ask yo' a question, Brer Buzzard?" said he.

"Cert'nly, Brer Possum. Cert'nly," replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard.

"Is Buzzard really your fam'ly name?" asked Unc' Billy.

"No, Brer Possum, it isn't," replied Ol' Mistah Buzzard. Everybody
looked surprised. You see, no one ever had heard him called anything
but Buzzard. But no one said anything, and after a minute or two Ol'
Mistah Buzzard explained.

"Mah fam'ly name is Vulture," said he. "Yes, Sah, mah fam'ly name is
Vulture, but we-uns done been called Buzzards so long, that Ah don'
know as Ah would know Ah was being spoken to, if Ah was called Mistah
Vulture."

"An' do Ah understand that all of your fam'ly have red haids?"
inquired Unc' Billy.

Ol' Mistah Buzzard looked down at Unc' Billy, and he saw a twinkle in
Unc' Billy's shrewd little eyes. Ol' Mistah Buzzard grinned.

"Ah knows jes' what yo' done got in your mind, Brer Possum," said he.