WADING BIRDS 
206 . Sandhill Crane. Grus mexicana. 
Range. — Temperate North America, breeding 
from the Gulf States, locally north to the south- 
ern parts of the British Provinces. 
This is the most common and the most south- 
erly distributed member of the family. In some 
sections of Florida and Texas it is regarded as 
abundant. They nest in marshy places near se- 
cluded ponds. The nests are masses of grass, 
weeds and roots, generally placed in marshes and 
entirely surrounded by water. The two eggs are 
similar to those of the Whooping Crane, but the 
ground color is lighter. The eggs of the two spe- 
cies cannot always, with certainty, be distinguish- 
ed. Size 3.75 x 2.40. Data/ — Carman, Manitoba, 
May 31, 1903. 2 eggs. Nest on a knoll in a 
marsh, hidden by dead rushes and weeds; a flat 
loose structure of broken rushes and reeds. Col- 
lector, Chris Forge. 
COURLANS. Family ARAMID^ 
207 - Limpkin. Aramus vociferus. 
Range. — This bird is a native of the West 
Indies and Central America, but occurs regularly 
north to the southern portions of Florida. 
This strange bird is the only member of its fam- 
ily found in the United States. It may be likened 
to a large Rail or a small Crane, being apparent- 
ly, a connecting link between the two. It is about 
two feet in length, and the plumage is mottled 
brownish and white. It lives in the marshes, 
from whence, until late at night, emanate its 
strange cries, which are likened to those of a 
child in distress. They nest in the most impen- 
Sandhill Crane. 
Limpkin. 
Buffy white 
etrable parts of swamps, building their nests of rushes, grass and weeds, in 
tangled masses of vines a few feet above the ground or water. They lay from 
three to eight eggs having a ground color of buff or grayish white and blotch- 
ed with light brown. Their coloration is very similar to those of the Cranes. 
Size 2.30 x 1.70. They nest in April and May. 
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