218 FIELD SHOOTING. 



and the three large white ones, and the next night 

 thirteen of the sand-hills. The large white crane 

 is bigger than the sand-hill, and sometimes attains 

 the enormous weight of thirty pounds ; that is, 

 he weighs as much as two good turkeys. It is 

 pure white, except the ends of the wings, which 

 are black. The largest of the three I killed was a 

 magnificent specimen. He measured seven feet eight 

 inches across the wings, stood five feet ten inches 

 high, and weighed thirty pounds. I gave it to 

 Mr. Gillott, of the great farm near Elkhart, and he 

 had a description of it published in the Lincoln, 

 Logan County, paper, headed, " Captain Bogardus's 

 Mammoth Crane." 



It is hard to get within shot of the white crane. 

 They are seldom killed, except near the ponds, 

 when they come to roost at night. It has a very 

 keen as well as far sight, and nothing but the fact 

 that it is almost dark when they come to the 

 roosting-place enables the shooter to get a chance 

 at them. A crane of either kind winged will 

 make a desperate fight, and is a dangerous custo- 

 mer for the unwary to deal with. If man or dog 

 comes within striking distance, the crane aims at 

 the eye with his sharp-pointed bill, some six inches 

 long. The bird will drive his bill into a dog as 



