r marking of gray. Size 3.75 x 2.50. Data.--Torkton, northern
Assiniboia, northwest Canada. Nest a mass of marsh hay, three feet in
diameter, on the prairie. The birds seen, but very wary. Collector,
Cowbry Brown.

205. LITTLE BROWN CRANE. _Grus canadensis._

Range.--North America in the interior, breeding from Hudson Bay and
southern Alaska north to the Arctic coast; south in winter to Mexico.

This uniform gray colored Crane differs from the next species only in
size, being about three feet in length, while the Sandhill averages
three and one-half feet. The eggs cannot be distinguished with any
certainty.

[Illustration 129: Whooping Crane. Little Brown Crane.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 128

[Illustration 130: Brownish buff. EGG OF WHOOPING CRANE.]
[Illustration: Buff. EGG OF LITTLE BROWN CRANE.]
[Illustration: Left hand margin.]

Page 129

206. SANDHILL CRANE. _Grus mexicana._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from the Gulf States, locally
north to the southern parts of the British Provinces.

This is the most common and the most southerly distributed member of the
family. In some sections of Florida and Texas it is regarded as
abundant. They nest in marshy places near secluded ponds. The nests are
masses of grass, weeds and roots, generally placed in marshes and
entirely surrounded by water. The two eggs are similar to those of the
Whooping Crane, but the ground color is lighter. The eggs of the two
species cannot always, with certainty, be distinguished. Size 3.75 x
2.40. Data.--Carman, Manitoba, May 31, 1903. 2 eggs. Nest on a knoll in
a marsh, hidden by dead rushes and weeds; a flat loose structure of
broken rushes and reeds. Collector, Chris Forge.

COURLANS. Family ARAMIDAE

207. LIMPKIN. _Aramus vociferus._

Range.--This bird is a native of the West Indies and Central America,
but occurs regularly north to the southern portions of Florida.

This strange bird is the only member of its family found in the United
States. It may be likened to a large Rail or a small Crane, being
apparently, a connecting link between the two. It is about two feet in
length, and the plumage is mottled brownish and white. It lives in the
marshes, from whence, until late at night, emanate its strange cries,
which are likened to those of a child in distress. They nest in the most
impenetrable parts of swamps, building their nests of rushes, grass and
weeds, in tangle