X90 THE WHOOPING CRANE. 



has alluded to this, but, as on other occasions, has not informed his readers 

 whence the information came. 



Both old and young may be seen digging through the mud before the 

 rains have begun to cover the shallow ponds with water, for during summer 

 they become almost dry. The birds work very assiduously with their bills, 

 and succeed in uncovering the large roots of the great water-lily, which 

 often run to a depth of two or three feet. Several Cranes are seen in the 

 same hole, tugging at roots and other substances, until they reach the object 

 of their desire, which they greedily devour. While thus engaged, they are 

 easily approached; for if their heads are bent down they cannot see you, and 

 until they raise themselves again, to take notice of what may be going on 

 around the place, you may advance so as to get within shot. While I 

 watched them at this work, they were perfectly silent; and as I lay con- 

 cealed behind a large cypress tree, within thirty paces of a flock, thus 

 buried, as it were, in the great holes they had formed, so as to put me in 

 mind of a parcel of hogs or bears at their wallowing spots, I could plainly 

 see the colour of their eyes, which is brown in the young, and yellow in the 

 adult. After observing them as long as I wished, I whistled, on which they 

 all at once raised their heads to see what the matter might be. I had so fair 

 an opportunity that I could not resist the temptation, especially as several of 

 the birds had their necks so close together that I felt confident I must kill 

 more than one of them. Accordingly, just as their last croaking notes were 

 heard, and I saw them preparing to set to work again, I fired. Only two 

 flew up, to my surprise. They came down the pond towards me, and my 

 next shot brought them to the ground. On walking to the hole, I found 

 that I had disabled seven in all. Those which were in different holes farther 

 off, all flew away, uttering loud cries, and did not return that afternoon. In 

 the course of a week these birds turned up the earth, and dug holes all over 

 the dry parts of the ponds. As soon as heavy rains fill the pools, the Cranes 

 abandon them, and resort to other places. 



The Sand-hill Cranes resort at times to the fields, in which corn, peas, 

 and sweet potatoes have been planted, as well as to the cotton plantations. 

 They feed on the grains and peas, dig up the potatoes, which they devour 

 with remarkable greediness; and in the wet fields seize on water insects, 

 toads and frogs, but never, I believe, on fishes. 



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 cunning 

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



