152 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [April 
resident in the vicinity of Fort Custer, it probably breeds there as 
a straggler; I failed to meet with this species during the summer, 
but found it not at all uncommon during its fall migration. Spec- 
imens shot by me in “the early part of October are now in the 
National Museum collection. I found them associated with 
White-crowned Sparrows and Arctic Towhees principally, scat- 
tered in small flocks through the undergrowth along the Big and 
Little Horn River bottoms, and it seems to confine itself to the 
shrubbery found along the streams. Specimens were shot by me 
as late as October 21, 1885. 
A SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS 
OF THE GULF COAST OF. FLORIDA. 
BY We EK.) Di. SCOLT. 
(Continued from p. 8.) 
Grus mexicana. SANDHILL CRANE. — This species is resident in the 
vicinity of the Gulf Coast of Florida at least as far north as Cedar Keys, 
and south of that place in suitable localities. 
What is known locally as ‘flat woods’ is the particular kind of environ- 
ment that the birds seem to like best. The characteristics of such 
regions are very low, level, barren lands, sparsely grown up with stunted 
pines and interspersed with open areas covered with coarse grass. The 
open areas are frequently covered by shallow ponds of water of greater or 
less extent. In the rainy seasons these ponds become of vast size, in fact 
the whole surface of the ground in the ‘flat woods’ is at such seasons 
flooded with water in depth varying from an inch or more toa foot. In 
such regions the Sandhill Cranes are to be found in small parties and in 
pairs the year round, and the drier portions are chosen for nesting and 
breeding. About Tarpon Springs the birds mate in January, build the 
last of that month or early in February, and the young are hatched about 
Marchi. There are generally two young in a brood. Downy birds be- 
fore me taken near Tarpon Springs, March 15, 1887, are from ten days 
to two weeks oid. 
Aramus giganteus. LimpxKin. — This species, like the last, though an 
abundant bird in some localities, is almost unknown in others. So far as 
I am aware it ranges as far north as Palatka and south into the Everglades. 
In Hillsboro’ County I have never met with it, but in Pasco, Hernando, 
