32 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ORDER VIII. — PALUDICOL^. Cranes, Rails, etc. 



All the North American members of this family lay spotted 

 eggs. Nests, with one or two exceptions, placed on the 

 ground. 



Family XIX. — GRUID^. Cranes. 



Members of this family lay very large eggs, exceeding in 

 size those of any other North American birds. Nests, com- 

 posed of grass, weeds, and other debris, jjlaced in the shallow 

 water of some marsh. 



204. Whooping Crane. Eggs, 2, elliptical, yellowish ash, 

 spotted and blotched irregularly and coarsely with reddish 

 brown and umber ; 2.60 + 3.90 to 2.65 + 4.00. Known from 

 the succeeding species by the large size. Breeds throughout 

 the interior of North America, southward, to Florida and 

 Texas, from March until May, depending upon locality, 



205. Little Brown Crane, Grus canadensis. Eggs, simi- 

 lar to those of No. 204, but smaller ; 2.30 + 3.65 to 2.35 + 

 3.65. Breeds in Arctic and sub- Arctic America. 



206. Sandhill Crane, Grus mexicayia. (Type, Plate V.) 

 Eggs, indistinguishable in form and color from those of No. 

 204, but are a little smaller; 2.15 + 3.40 to 2.25 + 3.65. 

 Breeds in the soutliei-n half of the United States; rare on the 

 Atlantic, excepting in Georgia and Florida; in March and 

 April. 



Family XX. — ARAMID^. Courlans. 



Eggs, resembling in general color and markings those of the 

 last family. Nests, composed of sticks, and placed in bushes, 

 near water. 



207. LraiPKiN, Aramus giganteiis. (Type, Plate V.) Eggs, 

 10 to 15, rather elliptical, ashy yellow, lined, sprinkled, spotted, 

 and blotched with reddish brown and umber; 1.70 + 2.35 to 

 1.75 + 2.50. Known by their resemblance to the Sandhill 



