IK FLOKIDA. 105 



an immense bird moving grandly and steadily, with 

 slowly beating wings and extended neck and legs. 



^'What an enormous creature," exclaimed one of 

 the ladies. 



'' It must be a rock," chimed in the other. 



" Here take the stick, while I get the glass," 

 saying which, Mr. Green let go of the tiller, and 

 plunged into the cabin to reappear with the binoc- 

 ular, which he fixed on the wondrous bird. 



'' What do you make out of him?" inquired the 

 doctor, who had forgotten his pipe in the excite- 

 ment till it had gone out. 



'' It is a crane," replied Seth, " but the largest one 

 ever I saw. Charley," he asked our captain, "^ did 

 you ever see such a crane as that before? " 



'• No, I never did," was the answer. '^It must 

 be something of the sort however, from the way it 

 flies and holds its legs." 



'' I wonder whether it can be the whooping crane?" 

 I inquired, '^ I have heard that they are occasional- 

 ly seen on the coast, although supposed to be more 

 numerous in the interior." 



^^Oh can't you shoot it, what feathers it must 

 have for hats." The origin of this remark was ob- 

 vious. 



'^^If you want feathers a yard long! Why it is 

 nearly as large as an ostrich. " 



" Well, don't we use ostrich feathers ? Oh do 

 shoot it, I want some long white feathers." 



'^ It is a little too far off," I replied. 

 How far?" was the persistent inquiry. 



a 



