156 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 17-N0. 10 



Inside 1.25 inches; the width outside is 

 4.5 inches; inside 2.5 inches. 



The nest contained three bluish green 

 eggs, the average size of which is .6'] -a .94 

 inches. Arthur JSI. Farmer. 



Amoskeag, N.H. 



Sand Hill Cranes in Michigan. 



Several miles back from the more popu- 

 lous districts of Shiawassee County, Mich- 

 igan, is a large swampy, woody tract of 

 State land, embracing about two and one 

 half land sections, about which little is 

 known other than its general dismal, low, 

 wet character. Being a "hollow," modern 

 drainage is impracticable and many years at 

 least will pass away before crowded popu- 

 lation will raise the value of land in this 

 State high enough to make it a paying 

 project, to institute a more extensive and 

 expensive system of drainage in order to 

 reclaim it from its present wild state. 



It was my fortune to be called in a pro- 

 fessional capacity to attend a family living 

 on a farm on the outskirts of this marsh 

 the past summer, and it was through that 

 that my first introduction to the above- 

 mentioned birds was procured. Hitherto 

 I had no knowledge of the occurrence of 

 Sand Hill Cranes in Michigan. I always 

 supposed from reading of them that they 

 wexe a bird of the western plains, inhab- 

 iting the more extensive swamps and 

 marshlands of the southwestern States. 

 My attention was first drawn to them by 

 hearing their loud, discordant cries. It 

 was a new bird note to me, and upon in- 

 quiry I was told what they were. Curious 

 to see so rare a bird in its native wild state 

 I prevailed upon the gentleman to whose 

 house I had been summoned to accompany 

 me back to the border of the swamp in 

 quest of them. He readily complied. Be- 

 ing an intelligent gentleman, he was able 

 to furnish me with many undoubted facts 

 regarding the domestic habits and nidifi- 

 cations of the birds. 



Not far from the wooded margin of the 

 marsh was a bare sand knoll, covering 

 perhaps an eighth of an acre of ground 

 and rising at the summit some fifteen feet 

 from the land level surrounding it. On 

 the very top of this knoll was perched an 

 old male crane. At our approach he 

 stood erect and tall, eyeing us carefully 

 for a minute or so, when all at once, as if 

 assured of our friendly intent, he began to 

 go through a regular dancing step, flour- 

 ishing and curvetting in a manner most 

 ludicrous, and to the evident admiration 

 of several of his fellows who were arranged 

 about the knoll. Anon the veteran dancer 

 would give a shrill war-like yell, throw 

 out his pinions on either side and leap ten 

 feet into the air, when he would again 

 alight and go on with his strange, wierd 

 dance. 



Since then I have made many excur- 

 sions to Saxvycr J\Iars/i, studying the 

 habits of these birds, once in company 

 with my old naturalist friend of other days, 

 Mr. J. B. Purdy, who came from his 

 home at Plymouth to study them with me. 

 Many years have they made the marsh 

 their home, till a large flock assemble 

 there each year and breed. Another 

 spring I shall endeavor to secure sets of 

 their eggs, and if successful will give my 

 experience in the pages of the Ornith- 

 ologist AND OoLOGiST. If Michigan 

 readers know of the Sand Hill elsewhere 

 in the State, would be pleased to read an 

 article from some one in regard to them. 



Dr. W. C. Brozvne//. 

 Morrice, Mich. 



The following new arrivals are reported 

 at Roger Williams Park, Providence, 

 R.I. : A pair each of Leopards, Jaguars, 

 Striped Hyasnas and Panthers, the latter 

 being two months old, "little beauties." 

 The interest in this department at the 

 park is indicated by the increased number 

 of visitors. 



