742 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



magazines are based usually on the young of the Snow Goose and the 

 Blue- winged Goose, which are very dark compared with the adult Snow 

 Geese. The latter are commonly called "Wliite Brant" in the Great 

 Lake region. 



Louisiana Heron. Hydranassa tricolor ruficoUis (Gosse). (199) 



])istribution. — Gulf States, Mexico (both coasts), Central America, 

 and West Indies; casually northward to New Jersey and Indiana. 



This species was included in Cook's "Birds of Michigan" probably on 

 the strength of Moseley's statement that there was a specimen in the 

 collection of the Kent Scientific Institute at Grand Rapids. "This speci- 

 men bore no locality label and probably was secured by Gunn in the South." 

 (R. H. Wolcott, Dec. 1904). Apparently this specimen has been lost 

 or destroyed, as the writer has been una])le to find it in the Kent collection. 



Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nyctanassa violacea (Linn.). (203) 



The adult is similar in size and proportions to the Black-crowned Night 

 Heron, but the culmen is shorter than the tarsus, the crown is white or 

 yellowish white, often stained with rusty, the rest of the head and throat 

 black, and most of the remaining plumage bluish-gray. The young of 

 the two species are very much alike and careful examination and comparison 

 are necessary in order to separate them; the relative length of culmen 

 and tarsus is the most certain test. 



This is a southern bird which would not be expected to occur in Michigan 

 even as a straggler. The only excuse for noting it here is the statement 

 in Cook's "Birds of Michigan" (2d edition, 1893, p. 52) that "a specimen 

 was taken by a taxidermist at Forestville, Sanilac county, and is now in 

 his collection (W. A. Oldfield)". We have not been able to verify this 

 record and feel sure it is a mistake. Mr. Albert Hirzel, a well-known 

 taxidermist and collector of Forestville, has no knowledge of such a capture, 

 but has mounted several Black-crowned Night Herons. There is, however, 

 an immature specimen of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron in the Provincial 

 Museum of Toronto, taken close to that city August 15, 1898 (Auk XXIII, 

 1906, 220). 



Little Brown Crane. Grus canadensis {Linn.). (205) 



Similar to the Sandhill Crane, but decidedly smaller, its length only 

 about 35 inches and wing 17.50 to 20 inches; while the Sandhill Crane 

 is 40 to 48 inches in length and the wing from 21 inches upward. The bill of 

 the latter always exceeds 5 inches, while that of the Little Brown Crane 

 never reaches 4.50 and averages hardly more than 3.50 inches. 



This is a bird of the far north and northwest and it is extremely doubtful 

 if it ever occurs within our limits. No Michigan specimen exists in any 

 collection so far as we can learn, and the few reported occurrences in all 

 prol)ability relate to the common Sandhill Crane. 



Clapper Rail. Rallus crepitans crepitans Gmd. (211) 

 Synonym: Salt Water Marsh Hen. 



Similar in size and general pattern of coloration to the King Rail, and 

 the young of the two species reseml)le each other somewhat closely. 



