Qrus canadensis. 75 



white species appears to confine itself to the sea coast, whereas this bird is found in 

 the interior. 



The Sandtill Crane is not unknown in Cuba {Journ. f. Orn., 1871, 

 p. 282). In Mr. Dresser's "Notes on the Birds of Southern Texas" {Ibis, 

 1866, p. 31) it is remarked : 



Near Matamoras I never saw the Sandhill Crane, but in our journey from Browns- 

 ville to San Antonio, in September, 1863, we saw birds of this species every day. 

 During the winter they were abundant near St. Antonio, but disappeared towards the 

 spring. I shot several, and founi them excellent eating — indeed, almost equal in that 

 respect to wild turkeys. 



[The most complete description of the distribution and habits of this 

 species vdth which I am acquainted is the following, given by Dr. Elliot 

 Coues, in the " Birds of the North-West :" 



I find no indication of the occurrence of this species anywhere in the Eastern or 

 Middle States, nor indeed east of the Mississippi and its tributaries excepting in 

 Florida. There it is abundant, according to several observers. Dr. Bryant refers to 

 its breeding, stating that two eggs are laid, from early in February until about the 

 middle of April. I have met with it in various parts of the West, finding it breeding 

 in Northern Dakota, quite plentifully, on the broad prairie. Newly-hatched young 

 were secured in July, near Turtle Mountain. Late in September and early in October 

 numbers of this species and 0. americana together were migrating through the same 

 region ; they appeared to journey chiefly by night. Often, as we lay encamped on the 

 Mouse River, the stillness of midnight would be broken by the hoarse, rattling croaks 

 of Cranes coming overhead, the noise finally dying in the distance, to be succeeded by 

 the shrill pipe of numberless waders, the honking of geese, and the whistle of the 

 pinions of myriads of wild fowl that shot past, sounding to sleepy ears like the rushing 

 sound of a far away locomotive. 



We have accounts of the Sandhill Cranes from the whole extent of the Mississippi 

 Valley (in the broad sense of the term), and of their breeding in Iowa and Minnesota, 

 as well as in Dakota. In Alaska, Mr. Dall says, it is a common bird at St. Michael's 

 and around the mouth of the Yukon, but less so in the interior, as at Nulato. " The 

 eggs, obtained June 17, on the Yukon River, are laid in a small depression on the 

 sandy beach, without any attempt at a nest." He adds that the fibula is a favourite 

 pipe-stem with the Indians, who, also, are fond of domesticating the young ; the birds 

 eating up vermin and insects, as well as refuse scraps of food about the settlements. 

 Further south, on the Pacific coast, says Dr. Buckley, Sandhill Cranes are very 

 abundant at Puget Sound, on the Nisqually plains, in autumn. " They there commence 

 to arrive from the summer breeding grounds about the last week in September, from 

 which time until about the 10th of November they are quite plentiful. After this 

 they disappear, probably retiring to warmer latitudes during the cold months. In the 

 fall they are found on all the prairies near Fort Steilacoom, but are not indifferent to 

 choice of certain spots. These are generally old ' stubble-fields,' or spots of ground 

 that have been ploughed. They rise heavily and slowly from the ground on being 

 disturbed, and, flying in circles, at length acquire the desired elevation. When pro- 

 ceeding from one favourite resort to another, or when migrating, the flight is high, and 

 not unfrequently their approach is heralded, before they are in sight, by their incessant, 

 whooping clamour. While feeding they are generally silent." To this account Dr. 

 Cooper adds that the Brown Cranes are common summer residents in Washington 

 Territory, "arriving at the Straits of Fuca in large flocks, in April, and there 



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