THE AMERICAN EGRET. 



537 



A very remarkable anatomical character is noticed in this species, very similar to that 

 in the Trumpeter Swan. These birds are noted for their extremely loud and discordant voices. 

 The presence of the peculiar development may be said to have some relation to the latter. 



The keel of the breast-bone is usually quite narrow and even in thickness. In the Whoop- 

 ing Crane this bone is enlarged to admit the windpipe, which it does by entering the front 

 edge, pressing the two sides apart ; continuing on and coiled within the substance of the breast- 

 bone, it emerges in front again and passes into the lungs. All this makes the trachea or 

 windpipe fifty -eight inches in length, twenty -eight inches of it being inside the keel of the 

 breast-bone. 



THE SAND-HILL CRANE (Orus canadensis) inhabits the United States from Florida, through 

 the Mississippi valley, north to the Yukon and Baffin's Bay. It is also found in Cuba. It 

 breeds nearly throughout this range. No record of its appearance in the Eastern States is 

 known, or east of the Mississippi and its tributaries, according to Dr. Coues, excepting in 

 Florida, where it is abundant. In Northern Dakota it breeds abundantly. To those not 

 familiar with the great numbers of wild birds, and numbers of species, the accounts by authors 

 would seem to be almost fabulous. Dr. Coues is always at the front in his pleasing and scholarly 

 descriptions ; his account of this Crane is as follows : " Often, as we lay together, encamped 

 on the Mouse River, the stillness of midnight would be broken by the hoarse, rattling croaks 

 of Cranes coming overhead, the noise finally dying in the distance, to be succeeded by the 

 shrill pipe of numberless waders, the honking of geese, and the whistle of the pinions of 

 myriads of wild fowl that shot past, sounding to sleepy ears like the rushing of a far-away 

 locomotive.'' 



"In the fall, the Sand-hill Cranes are found on all the prairies near Fort Steilacoom, 

 but are not indifferent to a choice of certain spots. These are generally old 'stubble fields,' 

 or spots of ground that have been ploughed. They rise heavily and slowly from the ground 

 on being disturbed, and, flying in circles, at length find the desired elevation. When proceed- 

 ing from one feeding point to another, or when migrating, the flight is high, and not unfre- 

 quently their approach is heralded before they are in sight by their incessant whooping clamor. 

 While feeding they are generally silent." DR. SUCKLEY. 



Dr. NewbeiTy says they are common in the markets of California, where they are esteemed 

 as food. He adds that they " were abundant about Klamuth Lake, and early in September, in 

 the Cascade Mountains, in Oregon, the Cranes were a constant feature in the scenery of the 

 lonely mountain meadows in which we encamped. We found them always exceedingly shy, 

 and diffident of approach, but not unfrequently the files of their tall forms stretching above 

 the prairie grass, or their discordant and far-sounding screams, suggested the presence of the 

 human habitations of the region, whose territory was now invaded for the first time by the 

 white man." 



A smaller species, or rather one standing lower than the preceding, is found in New 

 Mexico, called Little Crane (Orus fraterculus). 



THE bird represented by the accompanying illustration affords an example of the Egrets. 



The AMERICAN EGRET (Herodias alba egretta} is a native of several parts of America, 

 having its principal residence in the southern portions of that continent, and visiting the 

 more northern districts during several months of the year, arriving generally about February 

 or March. As it finds its food among inundated and swampy grounds, it is generally seen 

 haunting the rice-fields, the marshy river-shores, and similar localities, and seldom if ever 

 visits the high inclosed regions. The food of the Egret consists of the smaller mammalia, 

 little fish, frogs, lizards, snakes and insects. It is a handsome and elegant bird, and is con- 

 spicuous among the low marshy grounds which it frequents, on account of its large size, 

 being about three feet in length. 



The beautiful loose feathers of the train, which fall from the shoulders over the back, 

 are not fully developed until the third year. The term Egret is applied to certain of the 



VOL. II.-68. 



