cxcii Gbdid.e. BIRDS. Geuid^:. *■ 
where abundant. Coues says that lie found it in 
'I’exas to Minnesota, for a considerable breath, are 
reedy swamps — just such places as the Kails frequent 
unanimous and conclusive. Here it seems to be 
— where, when startled, it flies up in a manner re- 
chiefly migratory, but there is every reason to believe 
minding one of a Kail. Like the Bittern, it is regu- 
that it breeds in Minnesota, and, as just said, in 
larly migratory, passing northward in April, and 
Dakota, as it also does further north. * * * 
southward in .September. It is said to reside in the 
This tall and stately white bird, of the most impos- 
Gulf .States, and to be more numerous there than 
ing appearance of any in this country, I have only 
elsewhere. It does not appear to gather in communi- 
seen on the broad prairie, or soaring on motionless 
l ies to breed, like most of the Herons, but is oftenest 
pinions high over head. Its immense stature is 
found singly or in ])airs, or, at most, three or four 
sometimes singularly exaggerated by that quality of 
pairs. It is also an exception among Herons, that 
the prairie air, which magnifies distant objects on 
the sexes are alike in color. It bears a curious like- 
the horizon— transforming sometimes a weed into a 
ness or analogy to the Kails, in several respects. 
man, and a Wild Turkey into a Buffalo. 'I’he most 
The nest, according to Audubon., is sometimes placed 
fabulous accounts of a Crane’s size might readily 
on the ground, amid the rankest grasses, but more 
arise without intentional deception. I have known 
frequently it is attached to stems several inches 
a person to mistake a Sand-hill Crane for one of his 
above it. It is fiat, composed of rotten weeds, and 
stray mules, and go in search of him.” 
in shape resembles that of the Louisiana Heron, 
SAND-HILL CRANE (Grus canadensis) — called 
though this latter employs nothing but sticks. In 
also the Brown Crane — is found in the United 
two instances was found the nest of ihe Least Bittern 
States generally, from Florida and the Mississippi 
about three I’eet from the ground, in a thick cluster 
Valley to the Pacific; breeding in the same, and 
of smilax and other briery plants. In the first, two 
wintering in Cuba. 'J’hese birds rise heavily and 
nests were placed in the same bush, within a few 
slowly from the ground, on being disturbed, and 
yards of each other. In the other instance, there 
fly in circles, until they reach the desired eleva- 
was only one nest of this bird, but several of the 
tion. When proceeding from one favorite resort to 
Boat-tailed (Jiackle and one of the Green Heron, 
another, or when migrating, the flight is high, and 
the occupants of all of which seem to be on friendly 
not unfrequently their approach is heralded, before 
terms. AV'^hen startled from the nest, the old birds 
they are in sight, by their incessant whooping 
emit a few notes, resembling the syllable qua, alight 
clamor. While feeding they are generally silent. 
a few yards off, and watch all your movements. If 
Dr. Cooper says that the Brown Cranes are 
you go towards them, you may sometimes take the 
common summer residents in Washington 'J’erri- 
female with the hand, but rarely the male, who gen- 
tory, arriving at the Straits of Fuca in large 
erally flies off, or makes his way through the woods. 
flocks in April, and then dispersing in piiirs over 
'I’he food consists of snails, slugs and lepliles. In 
the prairies to build their nests, which are placed 
several instances, small mice and shrews are found in 
on the tall fern on the highest and most open 
their stomachs. 
ground, where they can see the approach of danger. 
They frequent, at this season, the mountains, at the 
Family— GKUIDHi;. 
height of 6,000 feet above the sea. 'I’he young are 
'I’he Cranes. 
often laised from the nest by the Indians for food. 
‘•In the autumn,” Dr. Newberry observes, “it is 
WHOOPING CRANE {Grus americanus ) — called 
abundant on the prairies of California, and is always 
also the White Crane — is found in the interior of 
for sale in the markets of San Francisco, where it is 
North America, up the Mississippi Kiverand through 
highly esteemed as an article of food. In August we 
the fir countries ; 'I’exas to Florida, and occasionally 
frequently saw them about the Klamuth Lakes ; and 
up the middle coast. This species has a windpipe 
early in September, while in the Cascade Mountains, 
between four and five feet long — quite as long as the 
in Oregon, the Cranes were a constant feature of the 
bird itself. 'I'he distribution of this Crane seems to 
scenery of the beautiful but lonely mountain mead- 
be somewhat peculiar, as may be gathered from Br. 
ows in which we encamped. We found them always 
Coues’ remarks, in his Birds of the Northwest: 
exceedingly shy and difficult to approach, but not 
“ It is said to be found throughout the fir countries. 
unfrequently the files of their tall forms, stretching 
but its distribution in the United States is some- 
above the prairie grass, or their discordant, sounding 
what limited, and there is difficulty in determining 
screams, suggested the presence of the human habi- 
from accounts, since authors have confounded it with 
tationsofthe region, whose territory was now for the 
the Sand-hill Crane. 1 find no satisfactory evidence 
first time invaded by the white man. 'I’he Cranes 
of its occurrence in New England, and Mr. Law- 
nest in these Alpine meadows, and retreat to the 
rence omits it in his New York list. It is thought 
milder climate of the valleys of California when 
to have bred in Wilson’s time at Cape May, New 
winter approaches. In Oregon they begin to move 
Jersey, and is said to be common in Florida. 1 
southward in October.” “ 'I’liousands of Sand Hill 
have never seen it alive except in Northern Dakota, 
Cranes repair each year to the Colorado River Val- 
where I observed it in August and to October, and 
ley, flock succeeding flock along the course of the 
where it probably breeds. Its principal line of mi- 
great streams, from their arrival in September to 
gration appears to be the Mississippi Valley at large. 
their departure the following spring. 'I’aller than 
Accounts of its presence all along this belt, from 
the Wood Ibis and the largest Herons with which 
