WADING BIRDS 



206. Sandhill Crane. Gms mexicana. 



Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 

 from the Gulf States, locally north to the south- 

 ern parts of the British Provinces. 



This is the most common and the most south- 

 erly distributed member of the family. In some 

 sections of Florida and Texas it is regarded as 

 abundant. They nest in marshy places near se 

 eluded ponds. The nests are masses of grass, 

 weeds and roots, generally placed in marshes and 

 entirely surrounded by water. The two eggs are 

 similar to those of the Whooping Crane, but the 

 ground color is lighter. The eggs of tlie two spe- 

 cies cannot always, with certainty, be distinguish- 

 ed. Size 3.75 x 2.40. Data. — Carman, Manitoba, 

 May 31, 1903. 2 eggs. Nest on a knoll in a 

 marsh, hidden by dead rushes and weeds; a fiat 

 loose structure of broken rushes and reeds. Col- 

 lector, Chris Forge. 



COURLANS. Family ARAMID^ 



207. LiMPKiN. Aramus vociferus. 



Range. — This bird is a native of the West 

 Indies and Central America, but occurs regularly 

 north to the southern portions of Florida. 



This strange bird is the only member of its fam 

 ily found in the United States. It may be liken. 

 to a large Rail or a small Crane, being apparent 

 ly, a connecting link between the two. It is about 

 two feet in length, and the plumage is mottled 

 brownish and white. It lives in the marshes, 

 from whence, until late at night, emanate its 

 strange cries, which are likened to those of a 

 child in distress. They nest in the most impen- 



Sandhill Cram 

 Limpkin. 



Buity white 



etrable parts of swamps, building their nests of rushes, grass and weeds, in 

 tangled masses of vines a few feet above the ground or water. They lay from 

 three to eight eggs having a ground color of buff or grayish white and blotch- 

 ed with light brown. Their coloration is very similar to those of the Cranes. 

 Size 2.30 x 1.70. They nest in April and May. 



129 



