THE LITTLE BROWN CRANE. _ 
619 
No. 245. 
LITLE. BROWN “CRANE: 
A. O. U. No. 205. Grus canadensis (Linn.). 
Description.—4dult: Plumage slaty gray to brownish, more or less washed, 
especially on back and scapulars, with ochraceous or rusty—this rusty sometimes 
abruptly confined to scattered single feathers; quills, alula and primary coverts 
blackish ; top of head to below eye bare, dull red, skin minutely warty and with 
some short, bristly, black hairs; feet and legs black. /mmature: Head entirely 
feathered ; plumage brown rather than plumbeous, extensively washed with rusty. 
Length about 35.00 (889) ; wing 18.50 (469.9) ; tail 7.50 (190.5) ; bill 3.60 (91.4) ; 
depth at base .77 (19.6); tarsus 7.50 (190.5); middle toe and claw 3.25 (82.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Eagle size; slaty gray or brownish color; crane pro- 
portions of bill, neck and tarsus; smaller than the next species. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Like that of next species. Eggs: 
smaller. Av. Size 3.66x 2.28 (93 x 57.9). 
General Range.—Arctic and subarctic America, breeding from the Fur 
Countries and Alaska to the Arctic Coast, migrating south in winter into the 
western United States. 
Range in Washington.—Common spring and fall migrant thruout the State. 
Authorities——Chapman, Bull. Am. Museum Nat’ Hist. Vol III. No. I. 
(soo) ps isi 
Specimens.—F,? 
THERE is no certain way of distinguishing these birds in flight from 
their larger relatives, G. mexicana. We only know that the bulk of the cranes 
which pass north during the spring migrations belong to this species, for it 
alone occurs thruout the tundras of Alaska in summer. During the seasonal 
movements no attention is paid to water-courses, and a pair seen at Dungeness 
on a stormy day, the 18th of April, had just topped the Olympic Mountains. 
No. 246. 
SANDHILL CRANE. 
A. O. U. No. 206. Grus mexicana (Mull.). 
Synonyms.—SouTHERN SANDHILL CRANE. BROWN CRANE. 
Description.—Exactly like preceding species, but larger. Length about 
45.00 (1143); wing 22.00 (558.8) ; tail 8.00 (203.2) ; bill 5.50 (139.7) ; depth at 
base 1.05 (26.7); tarsus 10.25 (260.4); middle toe and claw 4.00 (101.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Eagle size; slaty gray or brownish color; crane pro- 
