190 
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, especial 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 after- 
noon. 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 
nnd care of an Indian hunter to approach it at times, especially in the case 
