89 



Genus — Grus. Cranes. 



206. Sandhill Crane, fe. — la grtte dtj mexiqtje. Grus mexicana. L, 40. Very 

 similar to the Great Blue Heron, but without plumes at any season. An even blue- 

 grey colour all over with a washing of rusty red or brown, strongest in the juvenile 



Distinctions. Distinguished from the Great Blue Heron by its bare forehead, etc., 

 as described under preceding heading (Compare Figures 18 and 20, p. 21). Otherwise it 

 can be confused only with the Little Brown Crane Grus canadensis, from which it can be 

 distinguished only by size — the length of the latter species being about 36 inches and the 

 length of the Sandhill 40 inches. As specimens intermediate in size are not uncommon, 

 differentiation of the species is not always easy; and both forms may occur in eastern 

 Canada. Another Crane, the Whooping Crane Grus americana, found in the west, has 

 occasionally occurred in eastern Canada, but its pure white colour, or white washed with 

 rust colour, black primaries, and extremely large size — 50 inches— make it easy of recogni- 

 tion. 



Field Marks. Bare forehead coloured dull reddish, flight with neck outstretched in- 

 stead of folded, and more upland habits. 



Nesting. In wet marshy places, nest of waste vegetable matter. 



Distribution. Western Canada, breeding within the bounds of cultivation and north- 

 ward. 



The Sandhill Crane appears to have been a more common visitor to 

 eastern Canada, the Great Lakes region at any rate, in the early days than 

 at present. It is now only a rare straggler east of the prairie provinces, 

 though a few individuals still nest in southern Michigan and it is not 

 impossible that a few may still be found occasionally in adjoining parts 

 of Ontario. 



Economic Status. Too rare in eastern Canada to have any economic 

 importance. Though a more graminivorous feeder than the Herons and 

 occasionally visiting cultivated ground in numbers in the migration season, 

 it does little damage except when large numbers concentrate in a limited 

 area. The insect part of its food is large. 



SUBORDER— RALLI. SMALLER MARSH BIRDS. 



As regards Canada, this suborder, comprising the Rails, Gallinules, 

 and Coots, may be called Smaller Marsh Birds, as compared with the 

 larger Grues. They are not heron-like in form and cannot possibly be 

 confused with the Cranes either in shape, habit, or size. Of this suborder 

 only one family Rallidce occurs in eastern Canada. 



FAMILY RALLIDjE. BAIL-LIKE BIRDS. 



General Description. Toes long and slender for the purpose of covering a large area of 

 soft uncertain footing. The pedal characters are somewhat like those of the Shore Birds 

 but the hind toe is as long and well developed as the others and inserted on a level with 

 them instead of being slightly elevated. In this respect they resemble the Herons, but can 

 be distinguished from them by their unheron-like build and their feathered lores. 



They are typical marsh birds, skulking in the long grass and reeds, 

 running swiftly over yielding masses of half-floating vegetation, and 

 preferring to hide rather than fly at the approach of danger. They all 

 swim, some habitually and others on occasion. The family is divided 

 into three subfamilies: RaUince, the true Rails; Gallinulinee, Gallinules 

 or Mud Hens; and Fulicince, Coots. 



