Sandhill Crane 331 



Sandhill Crane. The most abundant American species is perhaps the 

 Sandhill Crane (G. mexicana), which is found from the "Mississippi Valley 

 west to the Pacific coast, south to Mexico, and eastward along the Gulf coast 

 to Florida and Georgia." It is smaller than the last, being only forty to forty- 

 eight inches long, and has a more slender bill. In the adult the entire plumage 

 is a deep slate-gray, sometimes tinged or washed with rusty, the primaries 

 becoming darker and the cheeks and throat paler. The young are brown 

 throughout, and as in the young of the Whooping Crane the head is entirely 

 feathered, the cheeks remaining so even when the bird is mature. This species 

 does not frequent the seashore, nor is it usually found in wet situations, "but 

 prefers dry prairies, plowed fields, sandy hills, and like places," where it feeds 

 on all the small animals it can catch, such as mice, frogs, grasshoppers, and 

 probably young birds, as well as succulent roots, seeds, etc. 



Dr. Coues, in his usual felicitous style, has given the following account of 

 the habits of this bird: "Thousands of Sandhill Cranes repair each year to 

 the Colorado River Valley, flock succeeding flock along the course of the great 

 stream, from their arrival in September until their departure the following 

 spring. Taller than the Wood Ibises or the largest Herons with which they 

 are associated, the stately birds stand in the foreground of the scenery of the 

 valley, the water now reflecting the shadow of their broad wings, then the clear 

 blue sky exhibiting in outline their commanding forms. Such ponderous 

 bodies, moving with slow-beating wings, give a great idea of momentum from 

 mere weight of force of motion without swiftness ; for they plod along heavily, 

 seeming to need every inch of their ample wings to sustain themselves. One 

 would think they must soon alight fatigued with such exertion, but the raucous 

 cries continue, and the birds fly on for miles along the tortuous stream, in Indian 

 file, under some trusty leader, who croaks his hoarse orders, implicitly obeyed. 

 Each bird keeps his place in the ranks ; the advancing column now rises higher 

 over some suspected spot, now falls along an open, sandy reach, swaying mean- 

 while to the right or left. As it passes on, the individual birds are blended in 

 the hazy distance, till, just before lost to view, the line becomes like an immense 

 serpent gliding mysteriously through the air. When about to alight, fearful 

 lest the shadows of the woods harbor unseen danger, the Cranes pass by the 

 leafy intricacies where the Ibises and other less suspicious birds feed, and 

 choose a spot for the advantage it may offer of uninterrupted vision. By nature 

 one of the most wary and discreet of birds, his experience has taught the Crane 

 to value this gift and put it to the best use. His vigilance is rarely relaxed 

 even when he is feeding, where less thoughtful birds feel perfectly secure. After 

 almost every bending of his long neck to the ground, he rises erect again, and 

 at full length and glances keenly on every side. He may resume his repast, 

 but should so much as a speck he cannot account for appear to view, he stands 

 motionless, all attention. Now let the least sound or movement betray an 

 unwelcome visitor he bends his muscular thighs, spreads his ample wings, 

 and springs heavily into the air, croaking dismally in warning to all his kind 

 within the far-reaching sound of his voice." 



