BROWN CRANE. 
527 
brown ; the lower, and rump, cinereous : the breast, 
belly, sides, and thighs, ash-colour, changing to 
white at the vent : the greater wing-coverts farthest 
from the body blackish brown ; those next the 
body grey, forming a band on the wing : the greater 
quills dark brown, with white shafts : the seconda- 
ries pale rufous ; some of these last are long and 
narrow, and reach beyond the greater quills : the 
tail of a deep ash-colour; legs and bare part of 
the thio;hs black.” Both sexes are similar. 
This is a native of North America, migrating 
northward in the spring to breed, and returning 
to the south in autumn : it is a shy species : the 
female lays only two eggs at a time ; these are very 
large, long, and much pointed at one end, of a 
pale cinereous, freckled with brown : the nest is 
formed on a tuft upon which much dry grass is 
accumulated, until it becomes as high as the belly 
of the bird when standing ; this is covered at the 
top with very fine dried grass, and upon this the 
eggs are laid, and the female stands over them, 
placing her legs on each .side of the heap. 
It feeds upon worms and insects, but will also 
eat corn, and often commits great devastation in 
the maize fields : its flesh is greatly prized by 
many, but is most esteemed when made into soup. 
