464 



NATURAL HISTORY 



following. One watches them as they go, thinking every minute that they 

 must light ; but now the individual birds can no longer be distinguished 

 and shortly the whole Hock is out of sight. 



Judge J. D. Caton kept three sandhill-cranes in his grounds for several 

 years, and interesting pets they made. The} T could fly well, but they 

 never made any attempts to escape, even at the migratory season. They 

 " could often be induced to dance and play with me in their awkward, 

 but very amusing, way. They are inclined to be imitative. Forty years 

 ago, when they were very abundant in this country, a farmer whom I 



Fig. 393. — Convolutions of the windpipe in the breast-hone of the whooping-crane. 



well know, assured me that he had one in domestication which, when a 

 year old, would fly on to the haystack and tramp around in imitation of 

 the boy, and would also take the lines in its beak and follow the horses, 

 breaking prairie, with a stately strut that was very amusing." One of the 

 birds left its fellow and took up with the pigs for companions, following 

 them with the most constant devotion. One of the females laid four eggs, 

 and the male " spent most of his time pretty near the nest, and guarded it 

 with great fidelity, and defended it with courage. If a cow or deer came 

 near it, he flew at it in a rage, and a few thrusts with his sharp beak sent 



