ly cold, it regularly retired at the approach of night under a covered passage,
where it spent the hours of darkness ; but it always repaired to this
place with marked reluctance, and never until all was quiet and nearly dark,
and it came out, even when the snow lay deep on the ground, at the first appearance
of day. Now and then it would take a run, extend its only wing,
and, uttering a loud cry, leap several times in the air, as if anxious to return
to its haunts. At other times it would look upwards, cry aloud as
if calling to some acquaintance passing high in the air, and again use its
ordinary note whenever its companion the Snow Goose sent forth her own
signals. It seldom swallowed its food without first carrying it to the
water, and dipping it several times, and now and then it would walk
many yards for that express purpose. Although the winter was severe,
the thermometer some mornings standing as low as 10°, the bird fattened
and looked extremely well. So strong was the natural suspicion of this
bird, that I frequently saw it approach some cabbage leaves with measured
steps, look at each sideways before it would touch one of them,
and after all, if it by accident tossed the leaf into the air when attempting
to break it to pieces, it would run off as if some dreaded enemy were
at hand.
The trachea of this bird, of which you will find a notice at p. 213,
confirms my opinion that the Canada Crane and the Whooping Crane are
merely the same species in different states of plumage, or in other words,
at different ages ; and, in truth, the differences are not greater than those
exhibited by many other birds, both aquatic and terrestrial. In illustration
of this subject I might adduce Ibises, Herons, Divers, and Grebes;
but this is quite unnecessary.
In reading the accounts given of the Canada Crane of authors, I find
no description of its manner of breeding. In the Fauna Boreali-Americana
of Mr SWAINSON and Dr RICHARDSON, the eggs of both are described,
and in NUTTALL'S Manual those of the Whooping Crane also ; but
in these works the account given of the birds and of their eggs is such,
that one might even, from comparing the descriptions, suppose them to be
of the same species. I have never had the satisfaction of finding any of
the breeding-places of the Whooping Crane ; but I well know that many
birds breed long before they have attained their full plumage. The supposed
new species of Heron described under the name of Ardea Pealii,
by my excellent friend Prince CHARLES BONAPARTE, breeds as the Whiteheaded
Eagle sometimes does, the immature bird in a snow-white dress,
WHOOPING CRANE. 211
the adult in purple and greyish-blue plumage. The young of Ardea
cceridea were for some time considered to form a distinct species, they
being white also, then blue and white, and finally dark blue. But the
most remarkable instance of change of plumage in the Traders is exhibited
in the Scarlet Ibis. My humble opinion is, that unless in cases
where birds are at first of one colour, and that colour remains ever after,
little dependence can be placed on the tints of the plumage as a specific
character.
On looking over my notes, I find that I have omitted to inform you
that the extraordinary strength of the thighs, legs, and feet of the
Whooping Crane, tends greatly to make it more terrestrial than the
Herons ; and that the great size of their nostrils, which so much resemble
those of the Vultures, is well adapted to keep the inner parts of the
organ from the damp earth and other matters with which they are so often
in contact, while searching in the ground or mud for roots and other
vegetable substances, on which the bird principally feeds. I am convinced
also, that this species does not attain its full size or perfect plumage
until it is four or five years old. The beauty of the plumage may
be improved in brilliancy during the breeding-season by a greater brightness
in the colour of the bill, as in the Booby Gannet and White Ibis, as
well as in the redness of the fleshy parts of the head.
The measurements of the adult bird of my plate, drawn at New Orleans,
in the month of April, were as follows:—Length from tip of bill
to end of claws, 5 feet 5 inches ; to end of tail, 4 feet 6 inches; the drooping
feathers 1 foot beyond ; alar extent 7 feet 8 inches; length of wing
22 inches; naked part of thigh 5 inches; tarsus 11£ inches; length of
middle toe 4£, of its claw f.
The measurements of the specimen kept at Boston :—Length from
tip of bill to end of tail, 3 feet 9 inches; to end of claws, 4 feet 6 inches ;
tarsus 8 inches ; naked part of thigh $£. The elongated inner secondaries
equalled the tail. The weight was 9 lb. 1 4 | oz.
Measurements of that killed on Spring Island:—Length 4 feet 4£
inches, the claws being 7 inches beyond the tail, so that the length from
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail was 3 feet 9£ inches ; alar extent
5 feet 8 inches. Weight 8 | lb.
In the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, there is a specimen
of still smaller size.
My friend JOHN BACHMAN, in a note addressed to me, says, " I saw
o 2