294 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



4. Order GRALLATORES.— The Wading Birds. 

 1. Family ARDEID^.— The Herons and Cranes. 

 1. Genus GRUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. (first edition, 1735, not paged). 



1. Grus canadensis {Linn.). — The Sandhill Crane. 



Ardea canadensis, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, 234 (17G6). 

 Grus poliopliaea, Wagler, Syst. Av. (not paged, 1827). 



Edwards, Birds, III, Plate CXXXIII ; And. B. of Am., Plate 

 CCLXI ; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXIV. 



This species is mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition as 

 occurring in vast numbers in Oregon and California, and appears to 

 have constantly presented the cinereous plumage by which it is cha- 

 racterized and distinguished from the larger Grus americcma. This 

 fact is particularly alluded to by Mr. Peale, whose observations are 

 given below. 



That the present bird and the species just mentioned are specifically 

 identical, which was conjectured only by Wilson, but asserted by 

 Audubon evidently with the most entire sincerity, is an idea which 

 may now be regarded as no longer entertained, the testimony of all 

 the many intelligent observers who have visited the western countries 

 of North America being against it, unanimously. The full investiga- 

 tion of Grm americana, especially in its immature stages of plumage, 

 however, must yet be considered a service to be performed in North 

 American Ornithology. We have never seen that species in young 

 plumage, but it will possibly be found to be in some degree similar to 

 that of the adult of the bird now before us, and quite possibly, too, 

 Audubon may have figured the adult and young of the same species. 

 Mr. Peale's observations on this point are of much interest. 



In Western North America this is an abundant species, migrating 

 southward in the autumn, and attracting attention by the large num- 

 bers in which it appears. Its proper home appears to be the immense 

 regions of this continent north of the territory of the United States. 



