WHOOPING CRANE. 35 



in the United States, like the rest of its family, dwelling 

 amidst marshes, and dark and desolate swamps, according to 

 the season, is met with in almost every part of North Amer- 

 ica, from the islands of the West Indies, to which it retires 

 to pass the winter, to the utmost habitable regions and fur- 

 countries of the north. A few hybernate in the warmer 

 parts of the Union, and some have been known to linger 

 through the whole of the inclement season in the swamps 

 of New Jersey, near to Cape May. When discovered 

 in their retreats, they are observed wandering along the 

 marshes and muddy flats near the sea-shore, in quest of 

 reptiles, fish, and marine worms. Occasionally they are 

 seen sailing along from place to place with a heavy, silent 

 flight, elevated but little above the surface of the earth. 

 Ever wary, and stealing from the view of all observers, 

 these gaunt shades of something which constantly avoids 

 the social light, impress the mind no less with curiosity than 

 aversion, and it is surprising, that furtive and inharmonious 

 as owls, they have not excited the prejudice of the super- 

 stitious. 



At times they utter a loud, clear, and piercing cry, that 

 may be heard to a very considerable distance, and which, 

 being not unaptly compared to the whoop or yell of the 

 savages when rushing to battle, has conferred upon our bird 

 his peculiar appellation. Other species of the genus possess 

 also the same sonorous cry. When w-^ounded they attack 

 those who approach them with considerable vigor, so much 

 so as to have been known to dart their sharp and dagger- 

 like bill through the incautious hand held out for their cap- 

 ture. Indeed, according to Dr. Richardson, they have 

 sometimes driven the fowler fairly out of the field. 



In the winter season, dispersed from their native haunts 

 in quest of subsistence, they are often seen prowling in the 

 low grounds, and rice fields of the Southern States in quest 



