LITTLE BEOWN CEASE 277 



Iinnietliately upon their arrival coiirtsliip begins. The mating 

 antics of this species are thus described by Nelson (1887, p. 95). On 

 ^lay 18, while lying in a hunting blind, he witnessed the performances 

 of two cranes wliich aliglited near by: 



The first comer remained alone but a short time, wlien a secoml bird 

 came along, uttering his loud note at short intervals, until he espied the bird 

 on the ground, when he made a slight circuit, and dropped close by. Both 

 birds then joined in a series of loud rolling cries in quick succession. Suddenly 

 the new-comer, which appeared to be a male, wheeled his back toward the 

 female and made a low bow, his head nearly touching the ground, and ending 

 by a quick leap into the air; another pirouette brings him facing his charmer, 

 whom he greets with a still deeper bow, his wings meanwhile hanging loosely 

 by his sides. She replies by an answering bow and hop, and then each tries 

 to outdo the other in a series of spasmodic hops and starts, mixed with a set 

 of comically grave and ceremonious bows. The pair stood for some moments 

 bowing right and left, when their legs appeared to become envious of the 

 large share taken in the performance by the neck, and then would ensue a 

 series of stilted hops and skips. . . . Frequently others join and the dance 

 keeps up until all are exhausted. 



The site for the nest is usually on the grassy flats, where the drier portions 

 or the slight knolls afford them suitable places. The spot usually has an 

 unobstructed view on all sides, and it is common to see the female's long neck 

 raised suspiciously at the appearance in the distance of anything unusual. 

 If one approaches, the head sinks lower and lower to avoid being seen, but if 

 the person, even though 150 or 200 yards away, should stop and look toward 

 the bird, she will generally rise and skulk away, her neck close to the ground, 

 wings hanging loosely by the sides, and legs bent, so as to avoid being seen. 

 When she is 100 yards or more from the nest she straightens up and stalks 

 anxiously about, uttering her loud call-note incessantly, and is generally joined 

 by the male; but it is rarely that either can, even then, be approacheil within 

 gunshot. . . . The nest is frequently a mere hollow in the ground, and is 

 commonly lined with more or less coarse grass-stems and straws. In one 

 instance a nest was found on a bare flat, and was lined with a layer of straws 

 an inch deep, all of which must have been brought for some yards; this is 

 unusual, however. 



The breeding season is necessarily of brief duration. Eggs, partly 

 incubated, have been found at Saint Michael as early as May 27 

 (1879), and in the Kowak Delta, well-incubated eggs were found on 

 June 14 and 15, 1899 (Grinnell, 1900, p. 20). The number laid is 

 always two. They are elongate ovate in shape, and average in inches, 

 3.62 by 2.25. In color the eggs are buffy or olive brown spotted and 

 blotched with reddish brown, grayish brown and lavender. These 

 markings are thickest at the large ends and have a decidedly longi- 

 tudinal trend, reminding one in this respect of the pattern of markings 

 on the eggs of the Ash-throated Fly-catcher. 



In the north the Little Brown Crane feeds on berries and grasses, 

 with some insects. On this diet the birds become fat and are esteemed 

 excellent eating, surpassing every other game bird there except 

 ptarmigan. 



