OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. lOI 



In Ontario the Night Heron or "Quawk," as it is commonly 

 called, is not generally distributed ; though stragglers are oc- 

 casionally seen at different points throughout the Province, yet 

 their breeding places are by no means common, the vicinity of 

 the sea being evidently preferred to the interior. 



Along the banks of the lower St. Lawrence they breed in 

 immense numbers, every tree in certain districts having several 

 nests among its boughs ; when viewed from a distance the trees 

 have the appearance of being heavily coated with dirty white- 

 wash, and the entire vegetation underneath them is killed by the 

 accumulated droppings of the birds. 



Though somewhat untidy in their surroundings at home the 

 birds themselves when seen in spring plumage are very hand- 

 some, the fiery red eye and long flowing plumes giving them 

 quite an interesting appearance. 



Order PALUDICOL^. Cranes, Rails, etc. 



Suborder GRUES. Cranes. 



Family GRUIDiE. Cranes. 



Genus GRUS Pallas. 



•74. GRUS MEXICANA (Mull.). 206. 



Sandhill Crane. 



Adult with the bare part of head forking behind to receive a pointed ex- 

 tension 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 2 ; light brownish-drab, marked except at the greater end with 

 blotches of dull chocolate-brown, shell rough, with numerous warty eleva- 

 tions. 



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



