98 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



common summer resident. Eggs have been obtained on the Lower 

 Anderson river, in Franklin Bay, and in Iviverpool Bay on the Arctic 

 coast. The nest is said to be a hole scooped in the ground, lined with 

 grasses. 



The eggs are two in number ; their color ashy-yellow, spotted and 

 blotched with reddish-brown, of the same general character as those of 

 the preceding species; rather elliptical; size 3.65x2.30. 



206. Grus mexicana (Mull.) [583.] 



Sandhill Crane. 



Hab. Southern half of North America; now rare near the Atlantic coast, except in Georgia and 

 Florida. 



The Southern Sandhill Crane, Common Brown or Sandhill Crane, 

 as it is variously called, is found in the United States chiefly in the 

 Mississippi Valley west to the Pacific coast and south into Mexico and 

 eastward along the Gulf coast to Florida and Georgia. It is irregularly 

 distributed and apparently breeds in sufficiently mild regions through- 

 out its range. It has been found nesting in Michigan, is reported 

 breeding in Northern Ohio, and is known to breed on the table-lands 

 of Colorado. 



Mr. Stuart says that in various regions of Florida, this species 

 nests during the months of February, March and April. The nests 

 are usually built in shallow grassy ponds, which are common in the 

 pine woods and prairies of that State. They are flat and composed 

 of a mass of grass, weeds, roots, etc., slightly elevated above the water, 

 oftentimes not more than two or three inches. On this structure two 

 eggs are deposited. Mr. Stuart remarks that the young birds are able 

 to follow the parents soon after being hatched. 



The eggs are ashy-yellow, with a buffy tinge, spotted and blotched 

 with brown, reddish-brown and various shades of gray. The average 

 size is 3.98x2.44. Two eggs in my cabinet from Florida measure 

 3-85x2.35, 3.82x2.36. 



207. Aramus giganteus (Bonap.) [581.] 



Limpkin. 



Hab. Florida; coast of Gulf of Mexico; Greater Antilles, south to Costa Rica. 



The Courlans are large. Rail-like birds and are in fact very close- 

 ly allied to the true Rails, with but a slight difference in their external 

 structure. There is one genus with two species, inhabiting the warmer 

 parts of America. The Brazilian Courlan, A. scolopaceus ( Gmel. ), 

 occurs in Eastern South America, while the Limpkin, which holds a 

 place in the North American fauna, is found in the Greater Antilles, 

 portions of Central America, with only a restricted distribution in Flor- 



