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the surface, watching- for finned prey. On such occasions, the gun- 

 ner well knows that it is useless to attempt securing it, as it is not 

 only very shy, but when standing erect — which watchful attitude it 

 sometimes adopts — its head is elevated about five feet from the 

 ground, which gives it an opportunity of observing what is passing 

 within a wide circle. Should you attempt to pursue it, you will 

 find, as I often have, that before you have advanced within two or 

 three times the distance that your gun will carry — notwithstanding 

 that it may be a very excellent one — the object of pursuit is aware 

 of your intention, and is leisurely moving off. If you have never 

 shot a Blue Crane, I doubt not that you desire to do so. You 

 mark it down, and try it again ; but before you have approached 

 as nigh as before, you find that its vigilance has increased with 

 your resolution — and the next stride you make, the bird is off — 

 Unwilling to relinquish the pursuit, you watch for it to alight — or 

 perchance you espy another feeding in the vicinity of a '' thatch." 

 This seems to offer a more favorable opportunity, as you can pro- 

 ceed under cover of the tall grass — and success now seems almost 

 certain. With lowered body and gun, perchance advancing in a 

 creeping manner, you conmence the exciting task. A few seconds 

 more, and you will be within the desired distance — which, on gain- 

 ing, with finger on the trigger, you cautiously raise your gun — 

 when behold! your mark is gone! On glancing up, you see its 

 long legs projecting beyond its tail feathers, and the steady flapping 

 of its broad wings carrying it far beyond your reach. Faiigued 

 and disappointed, you give over the pursuit, and make up your 

 mind that the Blue Crane is an exceedingly wary bird, and under 

 similar circumstances you will not again attempt to capture it. 



Notwithstanding all its watchfulness, the vigilance of the Great 

 Blue Heron is not at all times equal to the fowler's ingenuity. — 

 Like many other birds which are next to impossible to approach 

 unless you visit their breeding-places, the Blue Crane is enticed 

 within gun-shot through the agency of decoys. When shot in the 

 air, while falling, its long legs, neck, and wings dangling together, 

 it presents a ragged sight. One who has never seen the Blue He- 

 ron, except when at large, would be likely to suppose that by pos- 



