KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



QRUS HEXICANA (J/?>7/.). 

 Sandhill Crane. 



irus mexicana. 



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

 gray, sometimes biiffy gray on the back : legs black. 

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



This species ranges throughout the southern lialf 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 simph^ 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. 



