462 THE SANDHILL CRANE. 



fectly fresh, and were of an ashy yellow, spotted and blotched with brown 

 and reddish brown. One of the eggs had light splotches of gray upon it. 

 This set is now deposited in the oological collection at the Ohio State Uni- 

 versity. 



The second nest, which was located in the same field, was similar in 

 every respect to the first, except that it was placed on a little more elevated 

 ground and contained more grass as a lining. These eggs were slightly 

 incubated. 



The nest of these birds can readily be located, as the male bird is likely 

 to be in the vicinity, and upon being disturbed, takes flight with a note of 

 warning to his mate. She usually follows if you are coming in the direc- 

 tion of the nest. It is my impression that these birds leave the nest and 

 run for a little distance before they take flight, as in both cases the birds 

 ran from twenty-five to thirty feet from the nest before they started to fly. 

 I marked well the position w r here they left the ground, and in my search I 

 found they had gone that distance before flying. 



On the 1 8th of the month I again visited the marsh, intending if pos- 

 sible to get another sight of these birds, but they had left that part of the 

 marsh and had no doubt gone farther toward the center and uncultivated 

 part, which is less likely to be disturbed by man. On this day I went to 

 the southern section of the marsh and was successful in flushing a Sandhill 

 Crane from her nest. I found the eggs to be in a high state of incubation, 

 the nest having the appearance of being long occupied, and I concluded to 

 leave the eggs and return in a few days and see the young ; but it was up- 

 wards of a week before I was able to visit the place, and then I found that 

 the eggs had hatched and the young had left the nest. I made a number 

 ot trips to the vicinity of the nest later in search of the birds, but was not able 

 to see any but adult birds, and those only occasionally. During September 

 they can again be seen in small flocks, and it is supposed that they leave this 

 region the latter part of September or the first of October. 



I have always found these birds exceedingly shy and difficult to approach. 

 In fact, I have never been within gunshot of one of them even during the 

 nesting season. However, with a field glass I got a good view of one of 

 these birds feeding, and even at this great distance the bird's vigilance was 

 never relaxed. For after bending his long neck to the ground he rises again 

 very erect, and at full length surveys the surroundings upon all sides. He 

 resumes his repast, but should anything appear to view he stands perfectly 

 motionless, surveys it closely, and invariably takes flight upon the slightest 

 move. 



WM. C. MILLS. 



