STALKING GAME. 625 



down and strike the coin. Another would shoot a bird 

 soaring above his head, without looking at the bird, — guided 

 only by the shadow cast upon the ground about mid-day. 



STALKING GAME. 



In the same region, the Indians form a sort of trumpet out 

 of bamboo, covering one end with a thick membrane. On 

 blowing through the other, a sound is produced resembling 

 the bleating of a young fawn. Hiding himself behind a tree, 

 the hunter decoys the doe towards his place of concealment, 

 when he easily shoots her with his poisoned arrow. 



The following is another device for approaching the deer 

 in the open plains. These animals seem to have a peculiar 

 fondness for the tall crane of the Llanos — a large white bird, 

 with long, slender legs, and at least five feet in height. It 

 has a pouch of a bright scarlet, and a bill nearly a foot long, 

 and wide at the base, which enables it to swallow a large fish 

 at a mouthful. The hunter forms a mask to resemble the 

 head of the crane, and, clothing his own dark body in white, 

 holding his weapon low down, goes off in the direction of the 

 deer, taking care to approach it to leeward. He then imitates 

 the movements of the crane. When the deer stops to look at 

 him, he bends down his head as if feeding. As soon as the 

 deer again begins to browse, the hunter carefully approaches it 

 till he gets within range, and can shoot his deadly dart with 

 certain aim. 



MODE OF KILLING ALLIGATOKS. 

 The Indian bravely attacks the huge alligator, fearless of 

 its enormous jaws, sometimes shooting it with arrows from his 

 bow. The arrows are fitted in the same way as those used 



(379; 40 



