24 BULLETIN OF THE 






Sandhill Crane (Grus mexicana) 
FROM SPECIMEN IN MUSEUM OF MiCH. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
which are not readily accessible, but as it feeds largely on the uplands and in 
cultivated grounds it runs many risks which smaller and less attractive 
species avoid. This bird is generally confounded with the so-called “Blue 
Crane” or Great Blue Heron, which is not a crane at all but merely our 
largest species of heron. ‘The latter bird nests almost invariably in colonies, 
building bulky nests of sticks in the tops of tall trees in the swamps, and 
laying four or five blue unspotted eggs, whereas the Sandhill Crane places 
its nest on the ground and lays but two eggs which are always mottled and 
spotted. 3 
The cuts from which these pictures are printed were loaned by the 
Agricultural College and are’ from the forthcoming bulletin on the birds of 
the state which has been so long in preparation and may still be delayed for 
several months, 
