SANDHILL CRANE. 117 



When wounded, it is a dangerous bird to approach, for it drives 

 its sharp bill with great force and precision at its antagonist. 



For many years the Sandhill Crane was believed to be the young 

 of this species, but in all stages of plumage they can now be readily 

 identified. 



GRUS MEXICANA (MULL.). 

 79. Sandhill Crane. (206) 



Adult: With the bare part of head forking behind to receive a pointed 

 extension of the occipital feathers, not reaching on the sides below the eyes, 

 and sparsely hairy; bill, moderately stout, with nearly straight and scarcely 

 ascending gonys, that part of the under mandible not so deep as the upper at 

 the same place; adult plumage, plumbeous-gray, never whitening; primaries, 

 their coverts and alula, blackish. Young: With head feathered, and plumage 

 varied with rusty brown. Rather smaller than the last. 



HAB. Southern half of North America; now rare near the Atlantic coast, 

 except in Georgia and Florida. 



Eggs, two, light brownish-drab, marked, except at the greater end, with 

 blotches of dull chocolate-brown ; shell, rough, with numerous warty elevations. 



I am indebted to Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, for the first record I 

 have had of the occurrence of the Sandhill Crane in Ontario. Writ- 

 ing, under date December 6th, 1884, he says: "About twenty-two 

 years ago a pair of these birds spent the summer in the marshes near 

 Murphy's Landing, County Kent. Later in the season they were 

 seen stalking about, accompanied by two young, and finally all disap- 

 peared as the weather grew cold." 



"In 1881 a pair spent the summer near Mud Creek, in the same 

 locality, and were often seen by the people residing there. On the 

 1st of November, Mr. Joseph Martin, while out shooting in his canoe r 

 suddenly came upon them at short distance. He killed one, and 

 the other, being hard hit, dropped on a shaking bog close by. Mr. 

 Martin brought me the dead one, and next day I went with him in 

 search of its mate. We saw it lying quite dead on the bog, but, 

 though my partner and I tried hard to force our way to where it was, 

 we were compelled to give it up, to my very great regret." 



In the Auk, Vol. V., page 205, is a notice by Mr. W. E. Saunders, 

 of London, stating that he had received from Mr. M. J. Dodds, of 

 St. Thomas, a Sandhill Crane, which was killed at Rond Eau in 1869, 

 by Mr. John Oxford. 



These are the only well authenticated instances of the occurrence 



