Tin: AM niu< i v MU ;,.;: 



A very remarkable anatom il . h:,i.i. t. r i^ n..ti,-,-.| in ihi- species, very similar to that 

 in the Trumpeter Swan. These birds are noted for th.-ir .xtn-mely loud and di.scordatit volOM. 

 Tin- presence of tin- |vuliar development max U- said !.. have some relation to the latt- i 



Th- keel of the breast-bon. is u>-ially quite narrow and even in thickness. In tin- \\'|I.H.|. 

 ini; Crane this IHUH- is enlarged to admit the windpi|ie. which it doe* by entering the fr.nt 

 edge, pressing tin- two rides apart : continuini; on :m<l ,-oil,-d within the M distance of t)ie breast- 

 l>. .ii.-. it emerges in front a_~.iin and passes into tin- lungs. All this makes the trachea or 

 xvindpi]-- tifty-eitfht inches in length, twenty-eight inches of it being inside the keel of the 

 breast-bone. 



THE SAKD-HILL CRANE (Orut canaderuU) inhabits the I nn.-.i states from Florida, through 



Mi i--ippi valley, n.-nh tO ill-- Yuk..n and Kitlin'- Ki\. It i- abo f..un.| in Cul-a. Ii 

 nearlx throughou) thin nuip*. Effl MOOldod its ap]H>:inin<-f in lln< I...-!. -in Stat.-s in 

 known. ..i ,-ast ( .f tin- Mississippi ami its tiil>ntari-s, art-ording to Dr. Coues, excepting in 

 Flori'la. \\lu-re it is abundant. Ir. .\<.nln-iii Itakota it breeds abundantly. To those not. 

 familiar \\ ith the great numbers of wild birds, and numbers of s|>ecie}s the account* by authors 

 would scf-in to IN- almost fal.iilous. Dr. Com-s is always at tin- front in his pleasing and wholarly 

 deaeripti'.ns ; his account nf this Cnin>- in an follows: "Often, as we lay together, encamped 

 on thf Mouse Rivt-r. th' stillness of midnight would l'lm)kfii l>y tin- hoars*-, rattling croaks 

 of (Vanes coniini; ovcrlit-ad, th- iiois,. finally dying in the distance, to be succeeded by the 

 shrill pipe of numberless waders, the honking of geese, and the whistle of the pinions of 

 myriads of wild fowl that shot past, sounding to sleepy ears like the rushing of a far-away 

 locom<>ti\.-." 



"In the fall, the Sand-hill Cranes an- found on all the prairies near Fort Steiku-oom. 

 but are not indifferent to a choice of certain spots. These are generally old 'stubble fields/ 

 or spots of ground that have been ploughed. They rise heavily and slowly from the ground 

 on being disturbed, and, flying in circles, at length find the desired elevation. When proceed- 

 ing from one feeding point to another, or when migrating, the flight is high, and not unfre- 

 ipi.-ntiy thrir approach is In-raided before they are in sight by their incessant whooping clamor. 

 While feeding they are generally silent." DR. SUCKLEY. 



Dr. Newberry says they are common in the markets of California, where they are esteemed 

 as food. He adds that they " were abundant about Klamuth Lake, and early in September, in 

 the Cascade Mountains, in Oregon, the Cranes were a constant feature in the scenery of the 

 lonely mountain meadows in which we encamped. We found them always exceedingly shy, 

 and diffident of approach, but not unfrequenUy the flies of their tall forms stretching above 

 the prairie grass, or their discordant and far-sounding screams, suggested the presence of tin* 

 human habitations of the region, whose territory was now invaded for the first time by the 

 white man." 



A smaller species, or rather one standing lower than the preceding, is found In New 

 Mexico, called. Little Crane (Grut fralerculu*). 



THE bird represented by the accompany inc illustration affords an examj.l of the Egrets. 



The AMERICAN EGRET (Herodia* alba egretta) is a native of several parts of America, 

 having its principal residence in the southern )H.rtic.iis of that continent, and visiting the 

 inon- northern districts during several months of the year, arriving generally about February 

 or March. As it finds its food amoiii: inundated and swampy grounds, it is generally seen 

 haunting the rice-fields, the marshy river-shores, and similar localities, and seldom if ever 

 vi-jis the high inclosed regions. Tin- food of the Egret consists of the smaller mammalia, 

 little fish, frogs, lizards, snakes and insects. It is a handsome and elegant bird, and is con- 

 spicuous among the low marshy grounds which it frequent-, on account of its large size, 

 l-ing about three feet in length. 



The beautiful loose feathers of the train, which fall from the -houlders orer the back. 



not fully developed until the third year. The term Egret is applied to certain of the 



