1880. ] The Sand-Fiill Crane. 775 
During the winter the remaining pair of cranes were forced 
into a closer companionship, as they remained about the premises 
where all the fowls were fed with Indian corn. Early in the 
spring they manifested their natural instinct by a closer intimacy, 
and soon. became inseparable. 
On my return home about the first of June I found the female 
setting on four eggs in a nest consisting of a slight depression on- 
the border of a bunch of leaves which had been arrested by a 
pile of brush, The nest was not protected by the brush but 
quite outside of it. The keeper informed me that she had been 
thus faithfully employed for four weeks, and I hoped soon to see 
the young birds and determine the period of incubation. She 
Sat upon that nest with great constancy for four weeks jonger, 
when I ordered the eggs to be remove 
The habit of the cock during this time was quite interesting. 
He spent most of his time pretty near the nest, and guarded it 
with great fidelity and defended it with courage. If a cow ora 
deer came near it he flew at it in a rage, and a few thrusts with 
his sharp beak sent it away ina hurry, and if he saw a buggy 
coming in that direction, he raised his coarse harsh voice in so 
threatening a way as not to be mistaken, and if it came too near 
he flew at it, attacking either the buggy or the horse, whichever 
he happened to be nearest, and if it went within say fifteen or 
twenty feet of the nest, the female would leave the eggs and join 
in the attack, and the premises were soon cleared. Indeed, my- pee 
friends who are in the habit of visiting my grounds soon learned 
to give that family domain a wide berth. In fact he was almost 
as constant in his watchfulness, and as pugnacious in his conduct 
as a wild (Canada) gander whose goose was sitting across the 
ravine. 
It was the habit of this cock whenever the hen left the nest to 
seek for food, to take her place, and do the best he could, but he 
cut an awkward figure sitting on the nest, for his long legs — 
Seemed to be much in his way, while the female had managed to ' 
assume rather a graceful position while performing that maternal i 
duty. The eggs probably were not in fact fertilized. I hope to 
be more fortunate next season, and raise a broca of young sand- : 
hill cranes. 
The male is now fully one-third larger than the female, though 
he is but two years old. Since the nest was broken up both are 
