NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 239 



cranes always flew low, generally within shot from the ground of a heavy shoul- 

 der gun, and in a straggling manner, although during migration they rise to a 

 great height. They continued to arrive in the neighborhood of Terry for three 

 weeks (until October 10) when all had left excepting a small flock. 



Game. — The little brown crane is just as good a game bird as its 

 larger relative, but it is nowhere sufficiently abundant, except on 

 the Pacific coast, to be of much interest to sportsmen. In Califor- 

 nia it seems to be much commoner than the sandhill crane. Accord- 

 ing to Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer (1918) cranes brought fancy 

 prices in the San Francisco markets in the early days when turkeys 

 were scarce : 



More recently cranes were of regular appearance in the markets of San Fran- 

 cisco and Los Angeles. In the season of 1895-9G, 385 cranes were sold, bring- 

 ing to the hunter about 50 cents each, considerably more than any of the geese. 

 All testimony agrees as to the edible quality of the flesh of the crane, and this 

 is to be expected from its chiefly vegetable diet. * * * There are a few of 

 our game birds which, because of their extreme wariness, may be expected to 

 survive in spite of the increased efficiency of firearms and the increasing num- 

 ber of hunters. The little brown and sandhill cranes are to be included in this 

 category. It is nowadays only by mere chance that the shotgun can bring one 

 of these birds to bag. To get within range with a rifle, even, takes considerable 

 ingenuity. This, with the protection afforded them by our closed seasons, should 

 suffice to maintain cranes indefinitely, as far as California is concerned. 



In this connection it is pleasing to note that Mr. Brandt learned 

 from the Eskimos of Alaska that cranes have been increasing in 

 numbers there during recent years; this may be due to better pro- 

 tection in their winter homes or to increasing wariness on the part 

 of the birds. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North America to central Mexico. 



Breeding range. — North to the coast of Siberia (Semiavine Strait) ; 

 northern Alaska (Kotzebue Sound region, Colville River and Circle); 

 nortliern Mackenzie (delta of the Mackenzie River, Liverpool Bay, 

 Franklin Bay, and probably Cape Kellett, Banks Island) ; and Frank- 

 lin (Mercy Bay, Melville Sound region, the Boothia peninsula, 

 Igloolik, and Baffin Island) . East to eastern Franklin (Baffin Island) ; 

 southeastern Kcewatin (Southampton Island and near Cape Eskimo). 

 South to southeastern Keewatin (near Capo Eskimo) ; Mackenzie 

 (Fort Resolution and Nyarling River) ; and Alaska (Nushagak and 

 Cook Inlet). West to Mackenzie (region of Great Slave Lake); and 

 western Alaska (Nushagak and St. Micliael). 



Winter range. — North to southern Texas (San Patricio and Corpus 

 Christi). East to Texas (Corpus Christi) ; and San Luis Potosi (Rio 



