262 KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
GRUS MEXICANA (AMii?.). 
Sandhill Crane. 
Grus mexicana. 
Adult; Waving the bare skin on the top of the head deep red; general plumage brownish 
gray, sometimes buffy gray on the back; legs black. 
Length, 46; Wing, 21.50; Tarsus, 10 ; Bill, 5.30. 
This species ranges throughout the southern half of North America, 
being common in Florida and some parts of Georgia. It breeds commonly 
in Florida, the nest being a pile of sticks sometimes built in the middle of 
a shallow pond, and again the bird simply deposits the eggs in some open 
piece of dry ground with no attempt ata nest. The eggs are two in number, 
grayish olive marked with dark brown. The note of the Sandhill Crane 
somewhat resembles the sounds made by the blocks when hoisting sail on a 
vessel. 
