218 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



FAMILY GRUIDM. 



Bill strong, elongated. Neck and feet elongated. Four toes : tarsus longer than the middle 

 toe ; hind toe usually long, and resting on the ground. 



GENUS GRUS. Brisson. 



Bill somewhat longer than the head, straight, compressed, deeply channelled at the base of 

 the upper mandible on each side. Nostrils medial, placed in the groove, and closed behind 

 by a membrane. Head more or less bald, sometimes crested. Tibia considerably denuded. 



THE AMERICAN CRANE. 



GrUS AMERICANA. 



Ardea americana, Lin. p. 234 (adult). A. canadensis, Id. (young). 

 Hooping Crane, and Brown Crane. Pennant, Aid. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 442, and p. 443. 

 A. americana. Wilson, Am. Ornith. Vol 8, p. 20, pi. C4. fig. 3. 



A. id. d canadensis. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc\ Vol. 2, p. 302. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, pp. 372 and 373. 

 A. id. Nuttall, Man. Orri. Vol. 3, pp. 28 and 34. Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 46. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 

 5, p. 188, pi. 313 (adult); 314 (young). 



Characteristics. White. Quills and their shafts black. Crown and cheeks bald. Youn 

 bluish grey ; quills and their shafts brownish white. Length, 54'0 



Description. Neck and feet very long ; the bare portion of the tibia covered with trans- 

 verse series of rectangular scales. Head and cheeks naked, flesh-colored, and covered with 

 hairs. Second quill longest. Tail short and rounded. Color of the adult and young as in 

 the specific phrase. 



The Large Brown or Whooping Crane has not been observed by me in this State ; but 

 from its geographical range, it will doubtless be obtained here. It appears not to extend 

 along the Atlantic coast farther than New- Jersey, although it extends its migrations north- 

 wardly in the interior to the 68th parallel. The eggs are said to be green, with numerous 

 spots of brown confluent at the larger end. Wilson long ago supposed the Brown or Canada 

 Crane to be the young of the great white Whooping Crane, but his views were disregarded 

 by many subsequent naturalists. " It is highly probable," he says, " that the species described 

 by naturalists as the Brown Crane (Ardea canadensis), is nothing more than the young of 

 the Whooping Crane. In a flock of six or eight, three or four are usually of that tawny or 

 reddish brown tint on the back, scapulars and wing-coverts, but are evidently yearlings of the 

 Whooping Crane, and differ in nothing but in that and size from the others ; they are gene- 

 rally five or six inches shorter, and the primaries are of a brownish cast." Dr. Bachman 

 has since conclusively demonstrated the indentity of the two nominal species. 



