North American Birds Eggs. 



99 



Frequently several nests will he ton nil 

 in the same tree, and I have counteil as 

 many as tifty nests in view at the same 

 time. In lari,^^ swamps in the soutii they 

 generally nest at a low elevation, while in 

 the marshes of Wisconsin and Minnesota, 

 large colonies of them nest on the ground, 

 making their nest of rushes. Like all 

 Heronries, those of this species have a 

 nauseating oilor, from the remains of de- 

 cayed tish, etc., which are strewn around 

 the hases of the trees. Their eggs num- 

 her from three to five and are of a pale 

 bluish green color. Size 2.00 x 1.40. 

 Data.— Uxbridge, Mass., May ;^0, 1H98. 



iPale bluish green. 



about thirty feet up in a pine tree. Many other nests. 



4 eggs. Nest of sticks, 

 Collector, H. A. Smith 



203. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Xyrtana-HSd riolaceus. 



Range. — Subtropical America, breeding along the Gulf coast and to Lower 

 California: casually fartlier north, to Illinois and South Carolina. 



A handsome grayish colored species, with long lanceolate plumes on the back, 

 and two or three tine white plumes from the back of the head, like those of the 

 Black-crowned species. Its l)lack head, with tawny white crown and ear coverts, 

 renders it unmistakable. This species nests in colonies or by pairs, like the 

 preceding, and very often in company with other Herons. They lay from three 

 to six eggs, very similar in size, shape and color to those of the Black-crowned 

 Heron, 



CRANES, RAILS, Etc. Order VIII. PALUDICOL/E. 



0r^ 



iJ\l// 



CRANES. Family GRUID/E. 



Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds, somewhat resemi)ling 

 Herons. Their structure and motle of living partakes more of the nature of the 

 Rails, however. They are found upon the prairies, where, besides shell tish 

 from the ponds, they feed largely upon grasshoppers, worms, etc. 



204. Whooping Crane. Grus aiuericana. 



Range. — Interior of North America, breeding from ai)out the latitude of Iowa 

 northward to the Arctic regions; winters in the Gulf states and southward. 



The Whooping Crane is the largest of the family in America, measuring 50 

 inches or more in length. The plumage of the adults is pure white, with black 

 primaries. The bare parts of the heati anil face are carmine. It is a very loc- 

 ally distributed species, in some sections being practically unknown, while in 

 a neighboring locality it may be rated as common. They are very shy birds 

 and are not easily obtained. They nest either upon the solid earth or in marshy 

 places over the water. In either case the nest is a very bulky mass of grass 

 and weeds from two to three feet in diameter and raised perhaps a foot above 

 the ground. They lay two eggs of a brownish buff color, irregularly blotched 

 with brown, and with fainter marking of gray. Size 3.75 x 2.50. Data. — Tork- 

 ton, northern Assiniboia, northwest Canada. Nest a mass of marsh hay, three 

 feet in diameter, on the prairie. The birds seen, but very wary. Collector, 

 Cowbrv Brown. 



