Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-08
Curious Habits of the Brown sand Hill
Crane.
(GRUs CANADENsIs.
From the Prairie Farmer

y
Many of these noble birds still nest in this vcin-
ity, but their number is small compared with the
numerous focks that few years since, might be
holding their strange dances on some favorite
knoll, or feeding, while their sentines, judciously
posted stood ready to give warning of any suspi-
cious intruder.
Some arc credulous ms to the dancing of cranes.
1t is true, their movements are not as graceful as
Frenchman's, or their quadrilles quite Ia mode,
but dance they certainly do. As for their music,
though lacking the harmony il is about as loud and
melodous as fashionable opera air.
The Sand Hill Crane is omniverous, deyourinp
pretty much anything eaten by birds. The nest Is
a simple pile of rushes or grass-fat on the top,
built in some deep slough or pond The eggs, two
in number, are shaped much like those Of the COM
mon turkey, of a light amber color, splashed with
brown. The nest Is usually surrounded by deep
water, but the young birds swim readily and leave
it as soon Matched. II is believed by many that
they separate Immediately upon leaving the nest
position being that they would fight if allowed to
remain together In coroboration Of this some
what singular idea, i can only say, / never found
two Of the young birds in company, and pair
which had caused hen TO hatch fought from
the time they left the shell till in fact they killed
each other outright.
This bird is easily domesticated kept one for
several years, who showed all the attachment and
intelligence ola dog. He never forgot friend or
forgave an injury. If any one had abused him it
was of no avail to attempt disguise. He recog-
missed his enemies in any dress, and by an angry
croak showed his displeasure, and warned them to
keep out Of his reach. He was great german
dizer, md was very fond, among other things, Of
field mice, (Arvieota, many Of which he destroyed
being quite expert at finding their nests, and
searching out the inmates with his long bill. He
would have been Of service in the garden, were 1t
not for his inquistive propensties, which led him
to pull up for examination everything he saw US
plant. Though desire for knowledge might be
very laudabe, this mode of obtaining Il met our
disapprobation, and eventually caused his Danish
ment.
Though a migratory bird, he did not seem TO
suffer from cold in the winter, and being fond OF
wading, even Kept place in a neighboring slough
free from ice till late in the season, by tramping
about in IT, provided him with warm house,
but he preferred to sleep with the COWS. He al
ways slept beside one Of them, lying fiat on his
breast, with his legs folded under him, and his
head and long neck turned back between his wings.
He was on good terms with all the cattle, and
might frequently be seen playing with them his
part Of the performance consisting In spingng up,
tapping his wings, and whooping tremendously.
This was precisely the same as the dancing of his
wild brethren. lie would also dance to the waving
of handkerchief; and on windy washing days
sometimes danced for hours at time to the clothes
on the line. When much enrsgcd, he would stand
with his head and bill pointed directly upward and
utter harsh, croaking sound, quite unlike his
al oioop.
A young crane makes no despicable article Of
food. The old ones, should suppose, would be
rather tough and snaky; but an old Indian hunter
Of my acquaintance says, "A turkey is not half az
good eating
Audubon supposed this to be only the young Of
the white crane, but he was wrong. The white
crane (Grm d0,cricaao) IL more of a southern
bird, and exceedingly rare here. saw a pair fly.
ing over this fall for the first time These two
species are amongst the largest and finest Of our
North American birds. RoBT. W. KESSIoorr.