The most significant difference between male and female measure- 
ments existed in the tarsal length, which averaged 186.7 mm. on adult 
males and 17.9 mm. on adult females. 
An analysis of 51 gizzards collected during the season revealed 
that almost 100 percent of the diet of sandhill cranes during this 
period is composed of various species of sorghum grains and green alfalfa. 
It is concluded that the experimental hunting season was successful, 
inasmuch as none of the data accumulated indicate that this season or 
future controlled seasons would have an adverse effect on the sandhill 
crane species (including the rare subspecies) or on the whooping crane, 
In order to gain a more ojective evaluation of the effects of a hunting 
season on depredations and flock distribution of the crane populations: 
which winter in the west Texas and eastern New Mexico region, however, 
it will be necessary to open future seasons in both States simaltaneously 
and at an earlier date. 
Additional studies designed to gain information regarding total 
populations, migration, and distribution of the greater and lesser sand- 
hill crane populations should be initiated as soon as possible. 
REFERENCES CITED 
Aldrich, J. W. and T. D. Burleigh 
1958. Geographical variation in sandhill cranes. Unpublished report 
in files of Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 
Allen, R. P. 
1952. The whooping crane. Research Report No. 3, National Audubon 
Seciety, 246 pp. 
Atwood, Earl L. 
1959. Procedures for removing the effect of response bias errors 
from waterfowl hunter questionnaire responses. (Mimeographed 
report) U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. 
Huey, W. 5S. 
1960. Waterfowl studies. Sandhill crane investigations. Federal Aid 
Project W-91-R-3, Job 14. New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish. 
Linduska, J. P. 
19)9. Special Report. Sandhill crane observations - 199, Texas and 
New Mexico. Unpublished report in files of U.S. Bureau of 
Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. 
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