26; 



KEY TO THE WATJiR BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



QRU5 HEXICANA (J/////.). 

 Sandhill Crane. 



Cirus mexicana. 



Adult : Having the l)are skin on the top of tlie head deep red; general plvmiage 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 x\merica, 



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 \\\\\\ no attempt at a nest. The eggs are two in number, 



gra3ash 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. 



