372 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[139.] 1. Grus Americana. (Temm.) Whooping Crane. 



Genus, Grus, Pallas. 



The Hooping Crane, from Hudson's Bay. Edwards, pi. 132. 



Ardea Americana. Forst. Phil. Trans., lxii., p. 409, No. 37. 



Hooping Crane {Ardea Americana). Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 442, No. 339 ; and App , p. 66. 



Whooping Crane {Ardea Americana). Wils., viii., p. 20, pi. 64, f. 3. 



Grus Americana. Temm. Analyse, p. c. Bonap. Syn., No. 224. 



Wapow oocheechawk. Cree Indians. 



This stately bird frequents every part of the fur- countries, though not in such 

 numbers as the Brown Crane. It migrates in flocks, performing its journeys in 

 the night, and at such an altitude, that its passage is known only by the peculiarly 

 shrill screams which it utters. A few pass the winter in the southern parts 

 of the United States ; but the greater part go still farther south. It rises with 

 difficulty from the ground, flying low for a time, and affording a fair mark to 

 the sportsman ; but, if not entirely disabled by the shot, fights with great deter- 

 mination, and can inflict very severe wounds with its formidable bill. We have 

 known instances of the wounded bird putting the fowler to flight, and fairly 

 driving him off the field. When fat its flesh is well-tasted, though inferior to 

 that of the Brown Crane. Its eggs are nearly as big as those of the Swan, and 

 of a bluish-white colour, with patches of brown. The wing-bone of this bird 

 is converted by the natives into a kind of flute. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a male, killed on the Saskatchewan, May 7, 1827- 



Colour, pure white, except the spurious wing, primaries, and seven primary coverts, 

 which are brownish-black : four or five of the secondaries are speckled with brown. Occiput 

 and an angular patch beneath the eye clothed with blackish-blue feathers. Bill wax-yellow. 

 Irides gamboge-yellow. Legs bluish-black. 



Form. — Bill strong, straight, tapering, slightly compressed, and very acute; edges of both 

 mandibles crenated near the points. Top of the head nearly to the occiput, and the posterior 

 part of the jaws to beneath the eyes, covered with a dull orange-coloured membrane, clothed 

 with black hairs. Circumference of the eye feathered. Third quill feather the longest ; first, 

 second, and fifth nearly equal to it. Barbs of the tertiaries long, silky, and detached. Thighs 

 and legs thick and strong. Outer and middle toes connected at the base by a web : the hind 

 toe is short. — The orange-coloured membrane is paler in the female. 



Dimensions 

 Of the male. 



Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. 



Length, total . 48 Length of bill to rictus . 6 Length of tarsus . . 12 



„ of wing . . 25 „ of bare thigh . .6 Height on its legs (bill and 



,, of bill above . .60 „ of feathered thigh 8 neck stretched upwards) 62 



