WHOOPING CRANE. 
The top of the head is covered with a red- 
dish skin ; behind which, there is a triangular 
blackish brown spot, with one of the points back- 
wards : a similar skin covers the cheeks. The 
sides of the head, the throat, neck, body, and 
tail, are all white ; the entire wings, too, ex- 
cept the nine exterior quills which are black, 
and the tenth which is black and white, are 
likewise white. 
The thigh is bare five inches above the 
knee; the legs and feet are covered with 
black scales ; and the outer and middle toes 
are united by a web as far as the first joint. 
Buffon calls it the White Crane ; but most 
other naturalists name it the Whooping Crane, 
or Ardea Americanus. 
Catesby has described this bird from a 
skin given him by an Indian, who told hini 
that these birds frequent in great numbers the 
lower parts of the rivers near the sea in the 
beginning of spring, and return to the moun- 
tains in summer. This fa6l was afterwards 
coiifirnted 
