THE WHOOPING CRANE. 96 



covered 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. Evei 

 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 owl«*, 

 they have not excited the prejudice of the superstitious. 



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 wlien rushing to battle, has conferred upon our bird 

 his peculiar appellation. Other species of the genus possess 

 also the same sonorous cry. When wounded, they attack 

 those who approach them with considerable vigour, so much 

 BO as to have been known to dart their sharp and dagger-like 

 bill through the incautious hand held out for their capture. 

 Indeed, according to Dr. Richardson, they have sometimes 

 driven the fowler fairly out of the field. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANKCDOTES- 



Captain Amidas (the first Englishman whc ever set foot 

 In North America) thus graphically describes the clamour 

 ff the Whooping Cranes, on his landing on the i»le of Wo- 



