124 
heard as they pass over or back. These flocks are probably composed of 
juveniles not ready to breed, or of adults that have lost their mates and 
have not paired again. They show remarkable attachment to certain 
localities and a single old bird will return year after year to its old home 
grounds, calling and trumpeting to others passing over, associating with 
visiting migrants as they pause on their way, but always returning to its 
own grounds again when they continue their journey. 
In late summer, when the old birds and the season’s young gather in 
flocks, together with migrant Little Brown Cranes, they frequent the 
grain fields and, occasionally when in great numbers, do considerable 
damage to the stooks. How much of the damage should be attributed to 
the Little Brown Crane it is difficult to estimate, probably the greater 
part, because the Sandhill is becoming regularly scarcer every year as 
advancing cultivation and attendant dangers are encroaching and render- 
ing its old breeding grounds untenable. Cranes are protected now through- 
out the year, but, unless the legal fiat is assisted by general public 
opinion, the Sandhill is doomed to extinction. At present Saskatchewan 
is the only province where Cranes are seen in anything like their former 
number, but it is believed that the majority of these are not resident but 
are smaller migrants from the north. 
These two Cranes have long been locally known throughout the west as 
“Turkeys.” To see one in the specimen arouses wonder that a long-legged 
Wader should ever have been confused with our well-known table-bird; 
but in life the resemblance is not so remote as might be imagined. The 
red face resembles the red wattled head of the Turkey and it is interesting 
to note that another bird, the Turkey Vulture, has evidently been associ- 
ated with the same species for a similar reason. In feeding, the Crane 
carries its body low and its head down as it works over a field, when, with its 
long legs partly hidden in the grass and vegetation, its likeness to the 
Turkey is considerable. 
FAMILY — RALLIDAE. RAIL-LIKE BIRDS 
General Description. Toes long and slender to cover a large area of soft, uncertain 
footing. The pedal characters are somewhat like those of the Shore Birds, but the hind 
toe iB long and as well developed as the others and inserted on a level with them instead 
of being slightly elevated (Figure 151, compare with Figure 163). In this respect they 
resemble the Herons, but may be distinguished from them by their un-heron-like build 
and their feathered lores. In one species, the Coot (Figure 153), the toes are edged with 
scalloped flaps. 
They are typical marsh birds, skulking in the long grass and reeds, 
running swiftly over yielding masses of half-floating vegetation, and 
preferring to hide rather than fly at the approach of danger. They all 
swim, some habitually and others on occasion. The family is divided into 
three subfamilies: Rallinae, the true Bails; Gallinulinae, Gallinules or 
Mud-Hens; and Fulidnae , Coots. 
Subfamily— Rallinae. True Rails 
General Description. Very flat-bodied birds, compressed laterally, adapted for slipping 
between close-growing reeds and grasses; wings small, rounded, and comparatively weak. 
The whole structure of the bird is loose, giving the flexibility needed by habit and habitat, 
but not adapted for prolonged oi strenuous effort. 
Distinctions. Most easily recognized by negative characteristics; rail-like birds as 
described above that are not Coots (without frontal shield on forehead: compare with 
Figure 153). 
