BROWN CRANE. 



527 



brown ; the lower, and rump, cinereous : the breast, 

 belly, sides, and thighs, ash-colour, changing to 

 white at the vent : the greater wing-coverts farthest 

 from the body blackish brown ; those next the 

 body grey, forming a band on the wing : the greater 

 quills dark brown, with white shafts : the seconda- 

 ries pale rufous ; some of these last are long and 

 narrow, and reach beyond the greater quills : the 

 tail of a deep ash-colour : legs and bare part of 

 the thighs black." Both sexes are similar. 



This is a native of North America, migrating 

 northward in the spring to breed, and returning 

 to the south in autumn : it is a shy species : the 

 female lays only two eggs at a time ; these are very 

 large, long, and much pointed at one end, of a 

 pale cinereous, freckled with brown : the nest is 

 formed on a tuft upon which much dry grass is 

 accumulated, until it becomes as high as the belly 

 of the bird when standing ; this is covered at the 

 top with very fine dried grass, and upon this the 

 eggs are laid, and the female stands over them, 

 placing her legs on each side of the heap. 



It feeds upon worms and insects, but will also 

 eat corn, and often commits great devastation in 

 the maize fields : its fiesh is greatly prized by 

 many, but is most esteemed when made into soup. 



