GrRTJIDiE — THE CRANES — G-RUS. 
411 
contained seeds of an unknown plant as large as coffee-beans. All contained more 
or less sand, bits of quartz, and small brown pebbles. When dry these materials 
would weigh two ounces. Excavations, such as Audubon saw these birds making in 
Kentucky, where they rooted like hogs, have never been noticed in Florida, although 
the same lily roots are common and abundant. The largest excavations seen were 
not larger than a coffee-cup. 
Incubation takes place from the last or the middle of February to the middle of 
May, or later. 
Mr. Moore describes a peculiar use by this bird of the wing in its flight. There 
is an upward lift or jerk made suddenly. The wing is now laid on the air gently, and 
suffered to dip slowly down ; then, having reached the proper point, it is suddenly 
flirted upwards, and again laid upon the air — just, it would seem, at that critical 
moment when it is necessary to prevent the bird from declining in its chosen line 
of flight. 
Mr. Ridgway speaks of finding this species very abundant in the marshes of Ruby 
Valley, where it was seen daily. It was also quite common in the wet meadows of 
Carson Valley, where a tame Crane, caught when young in the neighboring meadows, 
was a remarkable and amusing pet. As he was entering the gate, the bird’s eye 
quickly detected a Junco oregonus that had been partially thrust into his coat pocket ; 
and walking boldly up to him, the Crane snatched it out and deliberately beat it upon 
the ground until nearly denuded of feathers, when it was swallowed with apparent 
relish. The Crane then again approached, and carefully examined his person for 
more birds ; but failing to find any, marched away across the yard with a stately step. 
This pet would frequently walk upon the porch, go up to the window, and watch 
with curiosity and apparent interest the sports of the children in the house; and 
if any of them approached the window it would evince its pleasure by amusing 
gesticulations. 
Mr. Dresser did not meet with this species near Matamoras ; but on his journey 
from Brownville to San Antonio in September, 1863, he saw birds of this species 
every day. During the winter they were quite common near San Antonio ; but all 
disappeared toward spring. He was told that they breed near Galveston and in 
Matagordo Bay ; but this statement requires confirmation. 
It is probable that much of the description of habits applied by Audubon to the 
-Whooping Crane is equally referable to the present species. At any rate in one 
instance it is very evident that he must have had this bird in view. This was in 
December, 1833, when his son went to Spring Island, on the coast of Georgia, and 
where the only specimen obtained was evidently a G. mexicana. He found the 
Cranes plentiful, resorting to the sweet-potato fields, digging up their produce as ex- 
pertly as a troop of negroes would have done. The birds would walk over the little 
heaps, probing them in various parts in the manner of a Woodcock ; and whenever a 
potato was found, removing the soil, and taking out and devouring the root. In this 
manner the flock searched over the whole field, gleaning all the potatoes which 
had escaped the gatherers. 
An egg in my cabinet (Ho. 652) measures — as nearly as can be estimated, the 
smaller end being wanting — 4.00 inches in length by 2.40 inches in breadth. The 
ground-color is a deep washing of sepia-brown, over which are distributed large 
blotches, a few rounded in shape, but chiefly longitudinal, of dark sepia. A few of 
the larger blotches are fainter, and have a slight tinge of purplish. This egg was 
obtained near Lake Koskonong, Wis. Mr. Ivumlien received it on the 1st of May; 
but it had been taken three weeks previously, or about April 10, 1851, and contained 
