CAPTURE OF THE GRAY HERON'. 107 



Three weeks had thus swept by, when, one morning, 

 our camp was invaded by a tribe of Blackfeet Indians, 

 who had come to conclude terms of amity with the 

 Osages. At first the two tribes regarded one another 

 with evil eye and frowning brow ; but the discourse of a 

 sachem soon produced a favourable impression, and peace 

 was made. 



Thanks to our new companions, my friend and I could 

 enjoy a pastime no longer practised in Europe, except in 

 Holland and Scotland : I mean, hunting the heron with 

 falcons trained for the purpose. The American falcons 

 resemble those of Europe in size and strength : the sole 

 distinction is the colour of their plumage, which is much 

 deeper. As for the education which adapts them for the 

 chase, and renders them obedient to the call of man, my 

 ignorance of the Indian language precludes me from say- 

 ing what means were employed by the Redskins to obtain 

 these results. 



The day after the arrival of the Blackfeet at our camp, 

 we wended our way, in the most profound silence, to- 

 wards a marsh formed by several springs of fresh water. 

 Two dogs, darting into the middle of the reeds which 

 fringed its borders, immediately started an enormous 

 gray heron, of an immense width of wing, who, taking 

 flight with the wind, mounted before us as if he wished 

 to lose himself in space. In ten seconds we could only 

 just discern him as a black spot on the clear azure of the 

 sky. But scarcely had he accomplished half his flight 

 before one of the five falcons, carried by the Redskins 

 in little reed cages, was let loose against him. 



At first the bird remained immovable on the edge of 



