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KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF IT.ORIUA. 



GRU5 HEXICANA (J/?///.). 

 Sandhill Crane. 



Grus mexicana. 



Adult : Having the bare skin on the top of the head deep red; general plumage brownish 

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

 Length, 46; Wing, 21.50; Tarsus, 10 ; Bill, 5.30. 



This species ranges throughout 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 by the blocks when hoisting sail on a 



vessel. 



