116 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 71. 



The Sandhill crane feeds upon grasshoppers, frogs, worms 

 and other life of the open, nearly all of which is considered 

 harmful to man. While feeding they follow certain fixed 

 rules. They always keep on open ground, either on an eleva- 

 tion or on an extensive flat. At least one of the group keeps 

 watch while the others feed. This one stands still most of 

 the time, with its head raised high in air and doesn't try to 

 feed. Apparently there are shifts of watchers. 



The mating habits of this bird are very interesting. In San- 

 born County, South Dakota, I have often watched the mating 

 dance : each time with increasing interest. In the early spring, 

 just after break of dawn, the groups that were separated wide- 

 ly, for safety, during the night, begin flying towards the 

 chosen dancing ground. These flocks of six or eight fly low 

 and give constantly their famous, rolling call. The dancing 

 ground that I knew best was situated on a large, low hill in 

 the middle of a pasture of a section in extent. From this hill 

 the surface of the ground for half a mile or more in every 

 direction could be seen. As soon as two or three groups had 

 reached this hill a curious dance commenced. Several raise 

 their heads high in the air and walk around and around slow- 

 ly. Suddenly the heads are lowered to the ground and the 

 birds become great bouncing balls. Hopping high in the air. 

 part of the time with raised wings, and part with dropping, 

 they cross and recross each other's paths. Slowly the speed 

 and wildness increases, and the hopping over each other, un- 

 til it becomes a blurr. The croaking, which commenced only 

 after the dancing became violent, has become a noice. The 

 performance continues, increasing in speed, for a few min- 

 utes, and then rapidly dies completely out. on.ly to start again 

 upon the arrival of more recruits. By seven o'clock all have 

 arrived, and then for an hour or so a number are constantly 

 dancing. Occasionally the whole flock of two hundred or so 

 break into a short spell of crazy skipping and hopping. By 

 nine o'clock all are tired and the flock begins to break up into 

 groups of from four to eight and these groups slowly feed to 

 the windward, 'diverging slowly, or fly to some distance. 



