THE AMERICAN CRANES. 137 



and those wild tones rang clearer and more 

 searching, you grasped the gun with tighter grip 

 though the game was still a mile or two away. 

 No other bird has so much pomp and circum- 

 stance about its movements ; and when, instead 

 of coming directly down, the cranes swept around 

 the amphitheater in miles of spiral, while the 

 long Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooo, growing ever nearer 

 and more penetrating, was answered by more 

 cranes over the mountain-tops, you felt very 

 much as you felt when first you heard the hounds 

 open in full cry and the ringing racket came 

 ever louder toward the runway where you 

 were stationed. 



Well hidden in the grass or reeds on the line 

 of flight, you had not long to wait, in the morn- 

 ing or evening, before some of the numerous 

 flocks were bearing down upon you. Then if 

 you could resist the temptation to twist your 

 head, or to shift the gun to get it into better 

 position, and could lie perfectly still until you 

 hear the broad wings winnow the air above, you 

 might with each barrel of your gun send one of 

 these huge birds whirling to earth in a huddle of 

 long legs, necks, and outstretched wings that 



