302 
Synopsis of the Birds 
with soft substances ; lay but two eggs, which each sex 
cover alternately standing, the other at the same time watch- 
ing ; taking great care of their young. Migrate in flocks : 
notwithstanding their size, undertake periodically more won- 
derful and hazardous journeys than any other bird : ascend- 
ing out of sight, moving in an isosceles triangle, especially 
at night, and performing evolutions suited to the state of 
the wind, or attacks of rapacious birds. The shrill voice of 
the leader, re-echoed by the whole flock, indicates their unseen 
passage. Flight high and silent in fine, low and noisy in 
stormy weather. Take wing with difficulty. Vigilant : a 
sentinel watching whilst the whole troop sleeps standing upon 
one leg, with the head under the wing, and giving alarm 
at the slightest approach of danger. Venerated, even in some 
civilized countries. 
Inhabit both continents. Analogous, perhaps even some- 
what allied to the Gallinae : closely related to the genus 
Psophia, by the subgenus Anthropoides, and might, perhaps, 
be placed in the family Alectorides, thus rendering the 
character of both families (Alectorides and Herodii) more 
precise. 
224. Gnus Americana, Temm. White; primaries black, with 
black shafts ; whole crown and cheeks bald. 
Young tawny. 
Hooping Crane , Ardea americana , Wils . Am. Orn. vii . p. 20 . 
pL 64 .fig. 3. adult male. 
Inhabits throughout North America and the West Indies ; 
probably also the north of Asia. 
225. Grus canadensis, Temm. Cinereous ; wings varied 
with testaceous; primaries brown, with white shafts ; anterior 
portion of the head bald. 
Brown Crane , Grus canadensis, JVob. Am. Orn. iii. adult 
male . Grusfusca, Vieill . Ardea canadensis, L . 
