mile of each other. They were placed in the open, upon a portion of the marsh 

 land that had been under cultivation for a few years prior to my visit, but had 

 again grown up in weeds. 



The first nest was built in a small hollow in the ground and made of a 

 few roots and weeds and some small bits of grass. These eggs were perfectly 

 fresh, and were of an ashy yellow, spotted and blotched with brown and 

 reddish brown. One of the eggs had light splotches of gray upon it. This set 

 is now deposited in the oological collection at the Ohio State University. 



The second nest, which was located in the same field, was similar in every 

 respect to the first, except that it was placed on a little more ele\-ated ground 

 and contained more grass as a lining. These eggs were slightly incubated. 



The nest of these birds can readily be located, as the male bird is likely 

 to be in the vicinity, and upon being disturbed, takes flight with a note of 

 warning to his mate. She usually follows if you are coming in the direction 

 of the nest. It is my impression that these birds leave the nest and run for 

 a little distance before they take flight, as in both cases the birds ran from 

 twenty-five to thirty feet from the nest before they started to fly. I marked 

 well the position where they left the ground, and in my search I found they 

 had gone that distance before flying. 



On the 18th of the month I again visited the marsh, intending if possible 

 to get another sight of these birds, but they had left that part of the marsh 

 and had no doubt gone farther toward the center and uncultivated part, which 

 is less likely to be disturbed by man. On this day I went to the southern 

 section of the marsh and was successful in flushing a Sandhill Crane from her 

 nest. I found the eggs to be in a high state of incubation, the nest having the 

 appearance of being long occupied, and I concluded to leave the eggs and return 

 in a few days and see the young ; but it was upwards of a week before I was able 

 to visit the place, and then I found that the eggs had hatched and the young had 

 left the nest. I made a number of trips to the vicinity of the nest later in search 

 of the birds, but was not able to see any but adult birds, and those only occasion- 

 ally. During September they can again be seen in small flocks, and it is supposed 

 that they leave this region the latter part of September or the first of October. 



I have always found these birds exceedingly shy and difficult to approach. 

 In fact, I have never been within gunshot of one of them even during the nest- 

 ing season. However, with a field glass I got a good view of one of these biids 

 feeding, and even at this great distance the bird's vigilance was never relaxed. 

 For after bending his long neck to the ground he rises again very erect, and at 

 full length surveys the surroundings upon all sides. He resumes his repast, but 

 should anything appear to view he stands perfectly motionless, surveys it closely, 

 and invariably takes flight upon the slightest move. 



497 



