142 CRANES, RAILS, AND COOTS 



merly inhabited the fertile, froggy prairies and corn-fields of 

 the Mississippi Valley ; but the species named above never was 

 really numerous anywhere. In travelling, cranes always fly 

 in single file, with their long necks and legs in a straight line, 

 and in that position the length of the bird seems very great. 



The Sandhill Crane ^ is a smaller bird than the preceding, 

 always has been more numerous and therefore is much more 

 widely known. In color it is a dull bluish-slate, and it has a 

 half-bald, dull-red head, like a whooping crane. The pioneers 

 who were on the western prairies from 1850 to 1870 occasion- 

 ally saw long lines of enormously long birds sailing high in 

 the heavens, trumpeting their identity to those unable to 

 see them, or alighting on stilt-like legs in the corn-fields. In 

 springtime, when the birds alighted in the bare fields, and 

 stalked about with majestic stride, they seemed fairly gigantic. 

 They went far north in spring to breed, and on their return 

 trips sought their winter home in Texas, Florida, and else- 

 where along the Gulf coast. 



Cranes in captivity, and wild ones also, often indulge in 

 strange antics. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, one 

 will half -open its wings, leap into the air and begin to dance. 

 It bobs and bows, salams and courtesies almost to the ground, 

 and in sheer delight repeatedly leaps into the air. Often the 

 lead of one bird is followed by several others, and occasion- 

 ally (as I have myself seen) a whole wild flock of fifteen or 

 twenty birds will join in the fandango. 



Whenever the days are cool and clear. 

 The sandhill crane goes walking 



1 Grus mexicana. Height, about 3 feet, 10 inches. 



