300 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
new quarters, we may look for some authentic information as to 
the habits of many animals now—like that concerning which I 
am now writing—so vaguely described as to be almost fabulous. 
I hope, en passant , that when all or any of them wish to give 
the world at large a correct idea of the diet of particular beasts 
or birds, they will descend a little more to niceties than Captain 
Wilkes has condescended to do, in describing that of the Grizzly 
Bear. " Its food,” says the gallant captain, “ is the same as 
that of the Indians, and varies with the seasons.” We presume 
that he might have added, “ and of the whites,” since his mean¬ 
ing is evidently that its food is whatever it can get; which, in 
those regions, is, in fact, as all know who have read Fremont’s 
Journal, the food of all who visit them—except, by the way, 
that I never heard of either white or Indian supping upon man* 
which, unless foully belied, is a favorite plat of my friend the 
Bear. 
Note to Third Edition. — It will be observed that I have not 
spoken, under the head of Western Field Sports, of the Whooping Crane, 
or, as it is more generally termed, the Sandhill Crane. I know it to be 
a bird much regarded as a dainty on the board, and always shot when 
met with by the hunter or sportsman. It is not, however, systematically 
or scientifically pursued, though I believe it might, and perhaps will, be 
taken with Falcons—see present volume, page 265—and, therefore, I can¬ 
not admit to be game, more than the Bittern, Heron, or Egret. See vol. 
1. p. 285, for the same reasons. 
