"^^im"'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 491 



57. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Herou. 



A somewhat common summer resident in Eed River Valley; one 

 individual seen during our passage down Eed River to Pembina (Coues). 

 Winnipeg: Summer resident, tolerably common, especially about Rea- 

 burn Marsh in August and September (Hine). In great numbers at 

 Shoal Lake, nesting among the reeds (D. Gunn). Red River Valley: 

 Summer resident; common (Hunter). I have seen several specimens 

 that were taken near the southeast end of Lake Manitoba; have never 

 seen any on the Big Plain (Thompson). Shell Kiver: 1885, first seen, 

 one, on May 16; a transient visitant; not breeding here (Calcutt). I 

 never met with it in six years of observing near the Red and Assini- 

 boine Rivers (Nash). 



I may here obsei ve that great numbers of Night Herons breed here. They fix their 

 nests to the reeds 8 or 9 inches above the water and deposit in each 4 or 5 roundish 

 blue eggs. I think this is the only place in Rupert's Land where this species is found. 

 We gave them the "go-by" last summer. The Indians call them Kitch^ geskman, i. 

 e., big king-fisher. (D. Gunn.) 



58. Grus americana. Whooping Crane. Flying Sheep. 



Tolerably common migrant and rare summer resident ; frequent in 

 Mouse River country in August, September, and October (Coues). 

 Winnipeg: Summer resident ; tolerably common (Hine). Oak Point: 

 1884, arrived May 1, 1885; first seen, three, on April 15; next seen on 

 April 17; is common and breeds here (Small). Rare summer resident near 

 Westbourne, arriving in April; seen all summer (Nash). Carberry : 

 In migrations only ; rare ; have seen specimens from Shoal Lake, where 

 it is said to breed (Thompson). Breeding in the marshes between 

 Moose Mountain and the Pipestone (Macoun). Shell River: 1885, 

 first seen, two, on April 30; next seen, a pair, on May 3; a transient 

 visitant, passing north and not breeding (Calcutt). White Sand River 

 (Christy). Qu' Appelle : Transient, passing over ; April 28 to May 1 

 (Guernsey). 



On April 19, 1882, saw two Whooping Cranes; the residents call 

 them " Flying Sheep." They flew at a great height and were loudly 

 croaking. 



This beautiful bird is common in the Qu'Appelle Valley and in the Touchwood Hill 

 range. It is a dangerous antagonist when wounded, striking with unerring aim and 

 great force with its powerful bill. When the bird is wounded, the best way to avoid 

 its attacks is to present the muzzle of the gun as it approaches; it will fix its bill 

 in the barrel, and may then be destroyed without danger. Instances have been 

 known of this bird driving its bill deep into the bowels of a hunter when not suc- 

 cessful in warding off its blow. (Hine.) 



59. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. 



Tolerably common summer resident; common along the boundary 

 after leaving Pembina; breeding (Coues). Winnipeg: Summer resi- 

 dent; tolerably common (Hine). Dufierin : Arrives between April 25 



