Sand-hill Cranes 



and killed three more rams, and another ewe, for 

 me whilst I lay at the door of the tent bemoaning 

 my luck. I was interested, though, for I saw a 

 curious sight that appealed to me. It was about 

 midday on the day succeeding my accident, and 

 I had by my side my compass, with which I had 

 been locating our position, which was in a sort 

 of basin whence radiated four valleys. The air 

 was still, and it was a lovely day. Suddenly I 

 heard a great " honking," as from a gaggle of 

 geese on passage, but I could in no direction 

 locate the sound. After some minutes I saw 

 the cause a great flight of sand-hill cranes were 

 migrating. They came down the valley from 

 the north, and on arriving at the basin where 

 my camp was pitched the noise stopped. One 

 bird that led the van spoke as he piloted them round 

 the basin at least four times, flying very high, 

 and then with a final croak led off his followers 

 by the outlet bearing due south. Several flocks 

 appeared at intervals during the two days I was 

 laid up. It was perfectly evident to me that on 

 arriving at this particular place some old bird 

 of the lot, who knew his way about, was showing 

 the birds of the year some of his landmarks 

 that would enable them to find their way for the 

 future. Had such a thing happened once I 

 should probably have taken no notice of it, 

 but when it was repeated exactly in the same 

 manner by some ten, or more, separate parties, 



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