THE WHOOPING CRANE. 195 



lures, is well adapted to keep the inner parts of the organ from the damp 

 earth and other matters with which they are so often in contact, while 

 searching in the ground or mud for roots and other vegetable substances, on 

 which tho bird principally feeds. I am convinced also, that this species 

 does not attain its full size or perfect plumage until it is four or five years 

 old. The beauty of the plumage may be improved in brilliancy during the 

 breeding season by a greater brightness in the colour of the bill, as in the 

 Booby Gannet and White Ibis, as well as in the redness of the fleshy parts 

 of the head. 



The measurements of the adult bird of my plate, drawn at New Orleans, 

 in the month of April, were as follows: — Length from tip of bill to end of 

 claws, 5 feet 5 inches; to end of tail, 4 feet 6 inches; the drooping feathers 

 1 foot beyond; alar extent 7 feet 8 inches; length of wing 22 inches; naked 

 part of thigh 5 inches; tarsus 11^ inches; length of middle toe 4i, of its 

 claw |^. 



The measurements of the specimen kept at Boston: — Length from tip of 

 bill to end of tail, 3 feet 9 inches; to end of claws, 4 feet 6 inches; tarsus 8 

 inches; naked part of thigh 3^. The elongated inner secondaries equalled 

 the tail. The weight was 9 lbs. 14^ oz. 



Measurements of that killed on Spring Island: — Length 4 feet 4-| inches, 

 the claws being 7 inches beyond the tail, so that the length from the tip of 

 the bill to the end of the tail was 3 feet 9^ inches; alar extent 5 feet S inches. 

 Weight 8f lbs. 



In the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, there is a specimen of 

 still smaller size. 



My friend John Bachman, in a note addressed to me, says, "I saw a pair 

 of tame birds of this species, which, as they advanced in age, changed their 

 colours from grey to white." 



Whooping Crane, Ardea Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 20. 



Grcs Americana, Bonap. Syn., p. 302. 



Grus Americana, Whooping Crane, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 372. 



Adult. 

 Grus Canadensis, Brown Crane, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii., p. 273. 

 Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 34. Adult. 

 Brown Crane, Grus canadensis, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 38. Young. 

 Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 202, Adult; p. 441, 



Young. 



Male 54, 92. 



From Texas to North Carolina during autumn and winter, and across to 

 the Rocky Mountains. Breeds from Upper California northward to the 



