deerstalking; and I
dare say the noise they heard was made by a party of people coming up
the valley below to see the waterfall, which is famous in the
neighborhood.

[Illustration]

WHOOPING CRANE.

The Whooping Crane is much larger than the common crane, which it
otherwise much resembles except in color; its plumage, in its adult
state, is pure white, the tips of the wings black. He spends the winter
in the southern parts of North America, and in summer migrates far
northwards. The crane feeds on roots, seeds, etc., as well as on
reptiles, worms, insects, and on some of the smaller quadrupeds. They
journey in flocks from fifty to a hundred, and rise to an immense height
in the air, uttering their loud harsh cries, and occasionally alighting
to seek food in fields or marshes; and when they descend on a field they
do sad havoc to the crops, several doing sentinel duty while the
majority are feeding. In general it is a very peaceful bird, both in its
own society and those of the forest.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE RAVEN.

THE RING-DOVE.

THE HOOPOE.

THE COCK.]

[Illustration: THE IBEX, OR ROCK GOAT.

DEER.

THE SYRIAN GOAT.

THE ROE.]

THE ELK.

This is the largest existing species of the deer family, and is a native
of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It grows to be six
feet high and twelve hundred pounds in weight. They are very rare in
Europe and this country, but at one time they extended as far south as
the Ohio River. They love the woods and marshy places, and live off of
the branches of trees, being unable to eat grass unless they get upon
their knees. They are very timid, and not easily approached by the
hunter, but should a dog come in the way, one stroke from an elk's foot
will kill it. Many of the parents of our little friends in Maine and
Canada are, no doubt, familiar with the elk and its habits.

[Illustration]

TOYS FOR ANIMALS.

The "Daily News" says: "Our readers have often doubtless observed
appeals in the papers for toys for sick children. We hear that a
naturalist who feels much for animals is struck with the cruelty of
leaving the creatures at the 'Zoo' without anything to play with. This
gentleman had in his possession a young otter, for whom he made a wooden
ball, to the extreme delight of his pet, who used to divert his simple
instinct with it for whole hours at a stretch. Following up the idea,
the same gentleman presente