WHOOPING CRANE. 211 



the adult in purple and greyish-blue plumage. The young of Ardea 

 coerulea were for some time considered to form a distinct species, they 

 being white also, then blue and white, and finally dark blue. But the 

 most remarkable instance of change of plumage in the Traders is ex- 

 hibited in the Scarlet Ibis. My humble opinion is, that unless in cases 

 where birds are at first of one colour, and that colour remains ever after, 

 little dependence can be placed on the tints of the plumage as a specific 

 character. 



On looking over my notes, I find that I have omitted to inform you 

 that the extraordinary strength of the thighs, legs, and feet of the 

 Whooping Crane, tends greatly to make it more terrestrial than the 

 Herons ; and that the great size of their nostrils, which so much resem- 

 ble those of the Vultures, is well adapted to keep the inner parts of the 

 organ from the damp earth and other matters with which they are so of- 

 ten in contact, while searching in the ground or mud for roots and other 

 vegetable substances, on which the bird principally feeds. I am con- 

 vinced also, that this species does not attain its full size or perfect plu- 

 mage until it is four or five years old. The beauty of the plumage may 

 be improved in brilliancy during the breeding-season by a greater bright- 

 ness in the colour of the bill, as in the Booby Gannet and White Ibis, as 

 well as in the redness of the fleshy parts of the head. 



The measurements of the adult bird of my plate, drawn at New Or- 

 leans, in the month of April, were as follows : — Length from tip of bill 

 to end of claws, 5 feet 5 inches ; to end of tail, 4 feet 6 inches ; the droop- 

 ing feathers 1 foot beyond ; alar extent 7 feet 8 inches ; length of wing 

 22 inches; naked part of thigh 5 inches; tarsus \1\ inches; length of 

 middle toe 4j, of its claw J. 



The measurements of the specimen kept at fioston : — Length from 

 tip of bill to end of tail, 3 feet 9 inches ; to end of claws, 4 feet 6 inches ; 

 tarsus 8 inches ; naked part of thigh 3^. The elongated inner secon- 

 daries equalled the tail. The weight was 9 lb. 14| oz. 



Measurements of that killed on Spring Island :— Length 4 feet 4^ 

 inches, the claws being 7 inches beyond the tail, so that the length from 

 the tip of the bill to the end of the tail was 3 feet 9i inches ; alar extent 

 5 feet 8 inches. Weight 8| lb. 



In the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, there is a specimen 

 of still smaller size. 



My friend John Bachman, in a note addressed to me, says, " I saw 



o 2 



