WHOOPING CRANE. 205 



wet fields seize on water insects, toads and frogs, but never, I believe, 

 on fishes. 



Bayou Sara, April 12. 1822.— The Sand-hill Cranes have left all the 

 fields, and removed to the swamps and inner lakes. I saw some catching 

 young bull- frogs, water-lizards, and water-snakes, as well as very small 

 alligators. One struck at a young snapping turtle, which, however, es- 

 caped. The Wood Ibises and these birds do not agree together ; the lat- 

 ter chase the former up to their bellies in the water. 



April 16. — I saw nine beautiful adult birds apparently in perfect 

 plumage. They were round a fallen log, about twenty yards from the 

 water, all very busily occupied in killing a band of young alligators, which 

 had probably endeavoured to save themselves from the attacks of the 

 Cranes by crawling beneath the sides of the log. I shot at them without 

 much effect, for, although I believe I wounded two of them, they all flew 

 off. On going up to the log, I found several young alligators, measuring 

 from seven to eight inches in length, apparently dead, with their heads 

 sadly bruised as if by a powerful blow. This led me to think that they 

 kill a number of animals before they feed upon them, as the AVood Ibis 

 is wont to do. This afternoon I saw four of these young Cranes tearing 

 up the ground in search of cray-fish. One caught a butterfly as it was 

 fluttering near, and instantly swallowed it. 



This species feeds only during the day. Besides the objects which I 

 have already mentioned, it now and then swallows a mole or a meadow- 

 mouse, and not unfrequently, I think, snakes of considerable length. I 

 opened one that had a garter-snake, more than fifteen inches long, in its 

 stomach. 



The wariness of this species is so remarkable, that it takes all the cun- 

 ning and care of an Indian hunter to approach it at times, especially in 

 the case of an old bird. The acuteness of their sight and hearing is quite 

 wonderful. If they perceive a man approaching, even at the distance of 

 a quarter of a mile, they are sure to take to wing. Should you acciden- 

 tally tread on a stick and break it, or suddenly cock your gun, all the 

 birds in the flock raise their heads and emit a cry. Shut the gate of a 

 field after you, and from that moment they all watch your motions. To 

 attempt to crawl towards them, even among long grass, after such an in- 

 timation, would be useless ; and unless you lie in wait for them, and be 

 careful to maintain a perfect silence, or may have the cover of some large 

 trees, heaps of brushwood, or fallen logs, you may as well stay at home. 



