GRUID.K — THE CRANES — GRUS. 



409 



(liffcrencL's Ijctweeii tliem except in size. In this conneutinn, liowever, the reader is ref'urrcd Id 

 tliu " liuUetiii of the NuttiiU {)riiith.)lip),'iciil Chih" for April, 1880, p. 12;j, and for July, 1H8(>, p. 

 1ST, where Mr. J. A. Allen iiiul Mr. Itiilgwiiy, respectively, consider them distinct species. 



Till' Inrf^cr and bfttt'i'-known race of tliu Sandhill Crant^ (hern calli'd vicrmnm) 

 wliili' having;, to a lar^n' cxtt-nt, the saum di.strilnitiou as tlu' anivricanti, is found to 

 extend its movements over a sonu'wliat larger territory, breeding nmeh farther south 

 tlian the Whoojjing Crane, and being distributed as far west as the I'aeifie coast, 

 where (}. (inierirann is unknown. Where the two are found together this is ever 

 tlic more abundant species. It is an occasional straggh'i to New Kngland, and is also 

 known to breed in Cuba, and possibly in others of the West India Islands. 



In Southeastern Oregini Captain IJendire found this a common summer resident, 

 l)recding abundantly on the h)wlands as well as in the highest mountain valleys. Its 

 iioarse cries could be heard almost everywhere in the vicinity of water so long as the 

 locality renuiined cpiiet. Each i)air ajifH-ared to have a certain district during the 

 breeding-season, ami he lu'ver found two pairs breeding within half a nule of each 

 otlier. 



Dr. Cooi)er s])eaks of this spt'cies as descending from the mf)untains into the San 

 .loaquin Valley. California, about Se])tember l.'ilth. when the h)W water enables it to 

 oljtain an alnmdance of fish and other food. 



He also mentions meeting with two individuals of this sjiecies among the nnmntains 

 of Montana, but none elsewhere, excepting a tame one near Kort Colville. This bird 

 would follow their horses for some distance, apparently for the jileasure of the racte, 

 running with outspread wings until it had been pa-s.sed, then Hying ahead and circling 

 around to meet them again. 



Elsewhere Dr. Cooper sj)eaks of this as being an abundant species in Cidifornia 

 (luring the colder months, some remaining throughout the summer anu)ngthe sumnnts 

 of the Sierra Nevada. They arrive from the north in flocks about the last week in Sep- 

 tember, and in the interior ap])arently go south of the limits of C!alifornia. as he lias 

 seen retunung tlocks passing to the north, over the Colorado Valley, about the 13th of 

 March. At this season they rise from the ground by laborit)US tla])i)ings, circling 

 iiround higher and higher, until they get so far uj) as to seem like tlocks of butterflies, 

 iuid then gradually nu)ve northward; but most of these migrations are done at night. 

 Their cry, almost constantly heard when they are Hying. J)r. Ct)oper states, is a rattling 

 sound exactly like that nunle by the blocks and ropes when hoisting sail on a vessel. 

 Tiicy also at times have a loud whooping cry. lie aihls that this bird builds its nest 

 oil the ground, in May, on sonu' elevated spot, among ferns, where it may be partly 

 concealed, and yet whence the a})proach of danger can be jierceived. The young of 

 this s])ecies are often raised from the nest, becoming very familiar and amusing, 

 showing much sagacity and a disposition *;o join in play with their friends. But as 

 pets they sometimes become dangerous, f. juia pro])ensity to use their sharp bills too 

 freely, even pecking at the eyes of the children with whom they are playing. 



The Sandhill Crane feeds on all the small animals it can catch, such as mice, frogs, 

 grasshoppers, etc., and probably on young birds. In a state of domestication it is 

 omnivorous, eating bread and vegetables also. It does not usually frequent the sea- 

 shore, nor is it often found in wet places, but prefers dry prairies, ploughed tields, 

 sandy hills, and like places, and in this respect is mdike the Heron family. It 

 is a very wary bird, and ditticult of approach within shooting distance, and can 

 he reached only by stratagem. As food Dr. Cooper regards it as nearly ecpial to the 

 Turkey, especially when young ; and it is constantly brought to the San Francisco 

 market during the cooler months. 



VOL. I. — 52 



