130 KEY TO Till', \\-.\T1:R 151RDS OF FLORIDA. 



QRU5 HEXICANA yMiili:). 

 • Sandhill Crane. 



(Jrus mexicana. 



Aditlt : Having the bare skin on tlie top of the head deep red; general pkmiage brownish 

 gray, sometimes huffy gray on the back ; legs black. 

 Length, 46; Wing, 21.50; Tarsus, to : Bill, 5.30. 



This species ranges thi-oughoiit the southern half of North America, 



being common in Florida and some parts of Georgia. It breeds commonly 



in Florida, the nest being a pile of sticks sometimes built in the middle of 



a shallow pond, and again the bird simply deposits the eggs in some open 



piece of dry ground with no attempt at a nest. The eggs are two in number, 



grayish olive marked with dark brown. The note of the Sandhill Crane 



somewhat resembles the sounds made bv the blocks when hoisting sail on a 



vessel. 



