98 WATER BIRDS 



minnows, and small snakes brought to the nest, and 

 these are carefully killed before being given to the young. 

 The cry of the Black-crowned Night Heron is a harsh 

 guttural squawk or croak, and the noise made when the 

 rookery is full of young birds screaming for food is inde- 

 scribable. Each brood discern their own parent flying 

 toward the nest, and, although the nestlings have sat in 

 unbroken silence until then, at sight of him the hungry 

 cries begin. 



206. SANDHILL CRANE. -^ Grus mexicana. 



Family : The Cranes. 



Length: 44.00. 



Adults: Bluish gra}-, varying to brownisli gray; paler on throat and 



sides of head, darker on primaries ; crown nearly bare, covered with 



reddish membrane and a scant growth of black hairs. 

 Young : Crown feathered ; plumage rusty brown. 

 Geographical Distrihution: United States from the Mississippi valley 



west to Pacific coast, south to Mexico, east along the Gulf coast to 



Florida. 

 Breeding Range : In mild localities throughout its habitat. 

 Breeding Season: Februarj'-, March, and April. 

 Nest: A platform of weeds and grass, on the water line, in a marshy 



lagoon. 

 Eggs : 2 ; grayish yellow, spotted with cinnamon and gray. Size 

 " 3.98 X 2.44. 



The habits of the Sandhill Crane and those of the 

 whooping crane are very similar. '' During courtship 

 and the early breeding season their actions and antics at 

 times are ludicrous in the extreme, bowing and leaping 

 high in the air, hopping, skipping, and circling about, 

 with drooping wings and croaking whoop, — an almost 

 indescribable dance and din, in which the females join, 



