WADING BIRDS 



206. Sandhill Crane. Grus mexicana. 



Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 

 from the Gulf States, locally north to the south- 

 ern parts of the British Province-. 



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- 

 cluded 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 the two spe- 

 cies cannot always, with certainty, be distinguish- 

 ed. Size 3.75x2.40. Data. — Carman, .Manitoba, 

 May 31, L903. 2 eggs. Nest on a knoll in a 

 marsh, hidden by dead rushes and weeds; a flat 

 loose structure of broken rushes and reeds. Col- 

 lector, Chris Forge. 



COURLANS. Family ARAMID^E 



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 Tinted States. It may be likened 

 to a large Rail or a small Crane, being apparent 

 ly, a connecting link between the two. It i- about 

 two feet m length, and the plumage is mottled 

 brownish and white. It lives in the mar 

 from whence, until hue at night, emanate its 

 strange cries, which are likened to those of a 

 child in distress. They nest in the most impen 



ipopi 



S;in<lhiii Crane. 

 Limpkin 



i tufty \\ 

 etrable parts of swamps, building their nests of rushes, urass and weeds, In 



tangled masses of vines a leu feel above the ground or water. They lay from 



three to eighl eggs having a ground color of bufl or grayish white ami blotch- 

 ed with Light brown. Their coloration Ls ver\ similar to those of the Crane-. 

 Size 2.30X 1.7a. The\ ie i in April and May. 



L29 



