256 



ORDERS OF BIRDS— CRANES, RAILS, AND COOTS 



two inches apart at the tips, it would drive its 

 beak into the earth to a depth of from two to 

 three inches, grasp a tuft of grass between them, 

 and by main strength deliberately pull it up 

 by the roots. A few vigorous shakes sidewise 

 dislodged any angle-worms which might have 

 been brought up, after which the roots of the 

 tuft would be carefully looked over before 

 being cast aside. Next in order, the wounded 

 earth would be carefully probed and picked 



New York Zoological Park. 

 WHOOPING CRANE. 



over. In a few hours, this bird sometimes 

 pulled up the grass on a space fifteen feet square, 

 and finally disfigured the ground so seriously 

 that after every rain the Crane had to be shut up. 

 A living full-grown Whooping Crane stands 

 4 feet, 3 inches high. Its name is due to its 

 wonderfully clear, powerful, and trumpet- 

 like call, which is uttered with the beak pointing 

 straight upward. When properly delivered, 

 the crane's call consists of two notes, an octave 

 apart, one following the other so closely that 

 there is no interval, thus: "Quah-KEE-E- 



E-oo!" I believe that a Crane's trumpet-call 

 will carry as far as the roar of a lion. 



All our Cranes are strictly open-country 

 birds, and formerly inhabited the fertile, froggy 

 prairies and cornfields of the Mississippi valky; 

 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 1S50 to 1870 occasionally saw long lines 

 of enormously long birds sailing high in the 

 heavens, trumpeting their identity to those un- 

 able to see them, or alighting on stilt-like legs 

 in the cornfields. 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 elsewhere 

 along the Cult 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, salaams, 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 occasionally 

 (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 

 Across the field by the flashing weir, 



Slowly, solemnly stalking. 

 The little frogs in the tules hear, 

 And jump for their lives if he comes near; 

 The fishes scuttle away in fear 



When the sandhill crane goes walking. 



The field folk know if he comes that way, 



Slowly, solemnly stalking, 

 There is danger and death in the least delay, 



When the sandhill crane goes walking. 



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



