Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-23
TProm the Prairie Farmer,l
Courteous Habits Of the Brown Saud-Hiu

Manv of these noble birds still nest in
i ,his vicinity, but their number ia small COM
nared with the numerous tiocks that few
wears since might be seen holding their
f strange dances on some iavorte knoll. or
/ feeding while their sentinels, judciously
posted, stood ready to give warning Of any
suspicious intruder.
Some are incredulous as to the dancing
of cranes. 1t is true their movements are
not as graceful as a Frenchman's, nor their
quadrilles quite q "a mode, but dance they
certainly a.. As for their music, though
lacking the harmony,it is about as loud and
melodious as a fashionable opera air
The Sand-Iill Crane IS omnlgorous, de-
yourinc pretty much everything eaten by
birds. The nest is a simple pie OF rushes
or prass-fat on the top, built in some deep
slough or pond. The eggs, two in number
are shaped much like those OF the co anon
turkey OF light amber color, splashed with
brown. The nest is usually surrounded
by deep water, but the young BIRDS SWIM
readily, and leave il as soen as hatched. 1t
is believed BY many that they separate, I'M
meliatey upon leaving the nest. each oil the
old birds taking care OF one-the suRposI-
ton being that they would fight il allowed
to remaia together. In Confederation 81 this
someu hat singular idea, ! can only say,
never found two Of the young birds IN com
pany; and pair which | had caused hen
to hatch, fought from the time they left the
shell, till, in fact, they killed each other cut
right -,
one 20. several years, who showed all me
attachment and intelligence of dog. lie
never forgot friend or forgase an injury.
| II any one had abused him, it was ot no
avail TO attempt disguise; he recognized ms
enemies in any dress, aud by an angry creak
showed his displeasure, and warned them to
keep out ofhis reach. He was great gor-
mandzer, and was very fond, among other
things, Of field. mice, (Arptco2a) many Of
which he destroyed, being quite expert at
ending their nests, and searching out the
inmates with his long bill. He would have
been OF service in the garden, were It not
for his inquisitive propensitles, which le d
him to pull up for examination every thln.
he saw us plant. Though desire FOR
knowledge might be very laudable, this mode
Of obtaining il met our disappfobation, and
eventually caused his Punishment.
Though a migratory bird, he did not seem
to suffer from cold in the winter, and being
fond ofwading, even kept place IN neigh
boring poni tree from ice till late in the sea-
SON. by tramp.ing about in it. ! provided
him with warm. house, but he preferred 10
sleep with the cows. He always slept be-
side one of them, lying fiat on his breast,
with his legs folded under him, and his head
and long neck back between his wings
He was on good terms with all the cattle,
and might frequently be seen playing with
the m; his part Of the performance consisting
in sprineing up, tapping his wings and
4hooping Tremendously. This was precise.
" the same as the dancing of his wild breti.
rem. He would also dance TO the waving of
handkerchief; ard on windy washing days
sometimes dance for hours at u time to the
clothes on the line. When much enrag-
ed he would stand with his head and bill
poip.ed directly upward. and utter a harsh,
eroaking sound, quite unlike his usual!
whoop.
A Young crane makes no despicable arti-
Gle OF. food. The old ones, should sup
pose. would be rather tough and snaky: but
an old Indian hunter OF my acquaintance,
SAYS, "a turkey is net half as good eat
ing"
Audubon supposed this to be only the
Young of the white crane, but he was wrong.
The white crane, (Grus AmericanG is more
Of southern bird and exceedingly rare
here | saw pair flying over this fall for
the first time. The two species are among
the largest aud finest Of our North Ameri-
can bird