24 
“immense serpent gliding mysteriously through the air.” In California and Texas the birds apparently linger for some 
time, but the greater part have reached Mexico by the month of November, although the first arrivals there, according 
to Lawrence, are as early as September. According to Henshaw they also winter in large numbers in New Mexico 
between Fort Craig and Albuquerque, where he observed them in November in large flocks. Dresser records this Crane 
as common in the winter near San Antonio in Southern Texas. 
Contrary^ to the habits of the greater part of the Canadian Cranes, which perform an annual migration from their 
breeding quarters in the north to the south of the continent, the birds of this species which are found in Cuba and Florida 
appear to have lost this habit and to have become permanent residents in those countries 
It is rather remarkable that both Florida and Cuba seem to be out of the way of the flocks of migrating Cranes 
that annually resort to the south. Moore observes that in Florida the number of Cranes does not increase in winter. 
Perhaps the fact of being out of the way of the migratory flocks, is the very reason for the Cranes having become 
permanently resident in these countries. Some pairs may have accidentally arrived there in former times, found the country 
suitable, and bred there, and, as there was no reason for leaving, may have resisted the migrating impulse and become 
permanent inhabitants. 
The Canadian Crane in its winterquafters lives in flocks along the rivers, in swamps and in the fields in very 
much the same way as the American Crane, and in March begins to leave for the north. They mostly travel north¬ 
wards through the interior of North America. Only a few pass over California along the west coast, where they were 
observed at Gray’s Flarbour, Washington, flying in a flock of about twenty on the 20th April (Lawrence, Auk. IX. 
p. 42 (1892)). Anthony (Auk. III. p. 164 (1886)) also speaks of the Sandhill Crane as a rare spring migrant in Oregon, 
although it is common enough in autumn. 
On the Saskatshewan Capt. Blakiston observed large flocks of this Crane coming from the south in April. Dawson 
saw it arrive near Dufferin, Manitoba, between the 25th and 30th April. Kennicote met with this species at Fort Reso¬ 
lution on May 30th, and Macfarlane found it breeding in June on an island near Franklin’s Bay, so that it had evidently 
arrived there in May. It is probable, therefore, that even the most northern limits of its breeding range are reached by 
the end of May or beginning of June. 
In their breeding quarters the Sandhill Cranes never nest in community, but each pair has a particular district 
which it keeps as much as possible free from the intrusion of its fellows. 
The first living Cranes of this species arrived in the Zoological Gardens of London in 1866, but the Zoological 
Garden of Amsterdam were able to exhibit an example of this bird as early as 1851, and since that time have 
shown specimens nearly every’ year. As is the case with the American Crane, Mr. Charles Reiche of Alfeld is one of 
the animaldealers of the continent by whom they are chiefly imported. They are much more usually to be had than 
the American Crane. 
These birds live well in confinement and those in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of Amsterdam have often 
laid eggs, although young ones have never been hatched. 
The figure of the trachea of Grtis canadensis is an enlarged copy of that given in Coues Key N. Am. Birds 
fig. 100, pag. 203. 
Tracliea of Grus canadensis. 
