North American Birds Eggs. 



99 



Frequently several nests will he found 

 in the same tree, and I have counted as 

 many as fifty nests in view at the same 

 time. In lar^e swamps in the south they 

 generally nest at a low elevation, while in 

 the marshes of Wisconsin and Minnesota, 

 large colonies of them nest on the ground, 

 making their nest of rushes. Like all 

 Heronries, those of this species have a 

 nauseating odor, from the remains of de- 

 cayed tish, etc., which are strewn around 

 the bases of the trees. Their eggs num- 

 her from three to five and are of a pale 

 bluish green color. Size 2.(10 x 1.40. 

 Data.— Uxliridge, Mass., May .'W, 18!),S. 

 4 eggs. Nest of sticks, about thirty feet up in a pine tree. JNIany otlier nests. 

 Collector, H. A. Smith. 



203. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Xijrtaiin.sHd lialftreuK. 



Range. — Subtropical America, breeding along the Gulf coast and to Jjjwer 

 California; casually farther north, to Illinois and Scjuth Carolina. 



A handsome grayish colored species, with long lanceolate plumes on the back, 

 and two or three tine white plumes frc^n the back of the head, like those of the 

 Klack-crowned species. Its black head, with tawny white crown and ear coverts, 

 renders it unmistakable. This species nests in colonies or by pairs, like the 

 preceding, and very often in company with other Herons. They lay from three 

 to six eggs, very similar in size, shape and color to those of the Black-crowned 

 Heron. 



CRANES, RAILS, Etc. Order VIII. PALUDICOL/E. 



CRANES. Family GRUID/€. 





Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds, somewhat resembling 

 Herons. Their structure and mode of living partakes more cjf the nature of the 

 Rails, however. Tliey are found upon the prairies, where, besides shell fish 

 from the ponds, they feed largely upon grasshoppers, worms, etc. 



204. Whooping Crane. Grits aniericaiui. 



Range. — Interior of North America, breeding from about the latitude of Iowa 

 northward t<j the Arctic regions; winters in the Gulf states anil southward. 



The Whooping Crane is the largest of the family in America, measuring 50 

 inches or more in length. The plumage of the adults is pure white, with black 

 primaries. The liare parts of the head and face are <'armine. It is a very loc- 

 ally distributed species, in some sections being practically unknown, while in 

 a neighboring locality it may be rated as common. They are very shy birds 

 and are not easily obtained. They nest either upon the solid earth orin marshy 

 places over the water. In either case the nest is a very bulky mass of grass 

 and weeds from two to three feet in diameter and raised perhaps a foot above 

 the ground. They lay two eggs of a brownish buff color, irregularly blotched 

 with brown, and witli fainter marking of gray. Size 3.75 x 2.50. Data.— Tork- 

 ton, northern Assiniboia, northwest Canada. Nest a mass of marsh hay, three 

 feet in diameter, on the prairie. The birds seen, but very wary. Collector, 

 Cowbry Brown. 



