BIRDS OF KANSAS. 131 



This southern form does not appear to be nearly as common 

 within its range as the Black-crowned, which it closely resem- 

 bles in habits, though more diurnal, slower in flight, and less 

 easy to approach. 



Their nests are placed on trees and bushes, a loose flat struc- 

 ture of sticks. Eggs three to five, 1.95x1.42; pale yellowish 

 to greenish blue; in form, oval to elliptical oval. A set of three, 

 taken June 12th, 1884, near the mouth of the Colorado River, 

 Texas, from a nest composed of sticks and grasses, in a small 

 tree, about ten feet from the ground, are in dimensions, small, 

 viz.: 1.94x1.39, 1.94x1.38, 1.94x1.39. 



ORDER PALUDICOL^. 



CRANES, RAILS, ETC. 



"Hind toe small and elevated (but neck much lengthened and bill strong 

 and hard) in Gruidce; lengthened and incumbent inArmida and JRallidce. Wings 

 comparatively short and rounded, and body compressed (except in Gruidce). 

 Habits prsecocial, and young dasypsedic. Palate schizognathous. Carotids 

 double." 



SUBOEDER GRUES. CRASHES. 



"Size large; head partly naked (except in young) or with ornamental plumes; 

 middle toe less than half the tarsus; hallux small, much elevated." 



FAMILY GRUID-3J1. CRANES. 

 "Characters same as those given for suborder." 



GENUS GRUS PALLAS. 



"Bill lengthened, straight, tne upper mandible only slightly decurved at the 

 extreme tip; the commissure and other outlines straight. Nasal groove very 

 large and open, extending over the basal two-thirds of the bill. Nostrils broadly 

 open, pervious; the anterior extremity half -way from the tip of the bill to eye. 

 The upper half of the head naked, warty, but with short hairs. 



"Legs much lengthened; toes short, hardly more than one-third the tarsus. 

 Inner toe rather longer, its claw much larger than the outer. Hind toe elevated, 

 short. Toes connected at base by membrane. Tarsi broadly scutellate ante- 

 riorly. Tertials longer than primaries, decurved; first quill not much shorter 

 than second. Tail of twelve feathers." 



