Rocky Mountains. 345 



of the soil by scratching with its feet, in search of the radi- 

 cal tubers of the pea vine, which seem to afford them a very- 

 palatable food. Near our present encampment, and in many 

 other situations bordering on streams of water, where this 

 plant vegetates in the greatest profusion, we have frequently 

 had occasion to observe that the surface of the soil was re- 

 moved in small and irregular patches, by the industry of this 

 bird in seeking for its favourite food. 



This crane is a social bird, sometimes assembling together 

 in considerable flocks. They were now in great numbers, 

 soaring aloft in the air, flying with an irregular kind of gy- 

 ratory motion, each individual describing a large circle in 

 the air independently of his associates, and uttering loud, 

 dissonant, and repeated cries. They sometimes continue 

 thus to wing their flight upwards, gradually receding from 

 the earth, until they become mere specks upon the sight, and 

 finally altogether disappear, leaving only the discordant mu- 

 sic of their concert, to fall faintly upon the ear. 



Mosquitoes have already made their appearance in small 

 numbers. 



April 14th. The messenger returned and the voyage was 

 continued. The creek was found to be very tortuous, and 

 the navigation much impeded by fallen trees, extending in 

 various directions across the stream, obliging us to resort to 

 the use of the axe in many places, to obtain a passage for 

 our boat. In the evening we arrived at the bluffs. The 

 water had now become so shallow as not to admit of our 

 further passage with the boat, which was left under the care 

 of our man, and having made the necessary observations for 

 ascertaining the latitude, on the following day we took our 

 blankets on our backs, and proceeded on foot, intending to 

 travel one day's journey further along the stream. At the 

 distance of about five miles, the high grounds closely bound- 

 ed the creek, and the valley, which below is extensive and 

 fertile, disappears. We saw numbers of the smaller species 



vol. I. 44 



