262 



KET AND BESCBIPTION 



less covered by rusty patches, espe- 

 cially on the back. (White Crane.) 



Length, 50 ; wing, 24 (22-26) ; tail, 9 ; 

 tarsus, 11 J; culmeii, 6| (o-Q). Interior of 

 North America; breeding from Illinois north 

 to the Arctic regions, and wintering in the 

 Gulf States. 



2. Little Brown Crane (205. Grus 

 canadensis). — Almost exactly like 

 the next, but smaller, the general 

 color being slaty or brownish gray. 



Length, 35; wing, 18J (17-20) ; tail, 7; 

 tarsus, 7J; culmen, 3J (3-4J). Western 

 North America; breeding in the northern 

 portions and migrating southward, mainly 

 west of the Mississippi into the western 

 United States and Mexico. 



Whooping Crane 



3. Sandhill Crane (206. Q^nis mexi- 

 rAna). — A very large, slaty to brownish-gray crane, with the 

 whole top of the head bare of 

 feathers, but covered with black 

 hairs on a dull reddish skin. The 

 plumage is more or less washed 

 with rusty. The young has the 

 head entirely feathered, and the 

 plumage brown, extensively washed 

 with rusty. During the early spring 

 these birds jump about in the most 

 ludicrous manner, as though danc- 

 ing an Indian war .dance, and they 

 stop only when exhausted. (Brown 

 Crane.) 



Length, 44; wing, 21f (21-22J); tail, 

 9 ; tarsus, lOJ; culmen, 5J (5-6). South- 

 ern half of North America, rare on the 

 Atlantic coast except in Georgia and 

 Florida ; breeding locally throughout, 

 even north to Manitoba. Sandhill Crane 



