342 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



intermediate regions that he never visits. Accordingly we find these 

 birds on the (irons plains of New Jersey, as well as on the Brushy 

 plains of Long Island among the pines and shrnb-oaks of Poeano, 

 in Northampton county, Pennsylvania over the whole extent of the 

 Barrens of Kentucky ; on the luxuriant plains and prairies of the 

 Indiana territory and Louisiana. In all these places preserving the 

 same singular habits. It is much to be regretted that attempts to 

 domesticate this exquisite bird have hitherto failed of success. There 

 can be little doubt that domestication may be affected if proper means 

 are employed ; and we may add that the object is highly worthy of 

 further experiments. 



The Quail or Partridge is a general inhabitant of North America, 

 from the northern parts of Canada and Nova Scotia, in which latter 

 place it is said to be migratory, to the extremity of the peninsula 

 of Florida. They are numerous in Louisiana; and Captain Hender- 

 son mentions them as being plenty near the Balize at the Bay of Hon- 

 duras. Where they are not too much persecuted by the sportsmen, 

 they become almost half domesticated ; approach the barn, particu- 

 larly in winter, and sometimes mix with the poultry to glean up a 

 subsistence. The Partridge, like all the rest of the gallianceous 

 order, flies with a loud whirring sound, occasioned bv the shortness, 



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concavity and rapid motion of its wings, and the comparative weight 

 of its body. The flesh of this bird is peculiarly white, tender and 

 delicate ; though it is dry, and not as much esteemed as that of the 

 Pheasant. 



Roseate Sjwonbill. This stately and elegant bird inhabits the sea 

 shores of America from Brazil to Georgia. It wades about in quest 

 of shell fish, marine insects, small crabs and fish. In pursuit of these 

 it occasionally swims and dives. 



The Whooping Crane is the tallest and most stately species of all 

 the feathered tribes of the United States. It is the watchful inhabi- 

 tant of extensive salt marshes, desolate swamps, and open morasses, 

 in the neighborhood of the sea. Its migrations are regular and of 

 the most extensive kind, reaching from the shores and inundated 

 tracts of South America to the arctic circle. In these immense pe- 

 riodical journeys they pass at such a prodigious height in the air as 

 to be seldom observed. They have, however, their resting stages 

 on the route to and from their usual breeding places, the regions of 

 the north. A few sometimes make their appearance in the marshes 

 of Cape May, in December, and on Egg island in the Delaware Bay, 

 where they are known by the name of Storks. Some linger in these 

 marshes the whole winter, setting out for the north about the break- 

 ing up of the ice. During their stay they wander along the marsh 

 and muddy flats of the shore in search of marine worms, moving oc- 

 casionally from place to place, with a low and heavy flight, a little 

 above the surface ; and have at such times a very formidable appear- 

 ance. Now and then they utter a loud, clear and piercing cry, which 

 may be heard at the distance of two miles. They have also various- 

 modulations of this singular note, from the peculiarity of which they 

 derive their name. 



Least Bittern. This is the smallest known species of the whole 

 tribe of Herons. It is commonly found in fresh water meadows, and 

 rarely visits the salt marshes. When alarmed it seldom flies far, but 

 takes shelter among the reeds or long grass. In the autumn this 



