9 
March, 1885.] history society of Wisconsin. 
eel. Now they are common, and large numbers are taken every 
summer. Angle-worms have increased, and as they are the favor¬ 
ite food of the Woodcock, this fact may in part account for the 
presence of the bird. 
Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis ) were so common that one 
could not go any considerable distance on the prairie without 
seeing numbers of these stately birds. In the spring when they 
were preparing to nest, they were in the habit of holding a sort 
of Indian dance, circling about and making their own music at 
the same time. Farmers frequently kept pet cranes, finding 
their antics and races with the children very laughable. 
They are easily domesticated when taken early from the nest. 
They are seldom seen on the prairies now. 
The Whooping Crane (Gras Americanus ) was never so abun¬ 
dant as the Sandhill. I presume I never saw more than a dozen 
in our vicinity. 
In rough, mountainous countries, where much land is not 
tillable and lies unmolested when surrounding country is culti¬ 
vated, the birds need not so soon entirely desert their usual 
haunts; but on the open prairie or thinly-wooded country, such 
as ours, the approach of man to cultivate the soil must steadily 
and inevitably drive the birds away. There is no lastness to 
which they can retreat to temporize. They must tollow Greeley’s 
advice and go west. 
