Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-07
From the Prairie Farmer.
Curious Habits Of the Brown Sand Hill Crane
Gras Cdnadensis.

Gras CdnddsaSis
Many Of these noble birds still nest in
this vicinity, but their number is small
compared with he numerous nocks that
few years since, might be seen holding
their strange dances on some favori,e knoll,
or feeding, while their sentincls. Judi
ciously posted, stood ready to give war
ming Of any suspicious intruder.
Some are iucredulous as the dancing Of
cranes. Il is true, 'hsir movements are
aVs asSfaceiui as iv.srH,isnuft,ys or il...s4
quadrilles quite Ia mode; bui dance they
certainly do As for their music, though
lacking the harmony, it is about as loud
and melodious as fashionable opera air.
The Sand Hill Crane is omniverous,
devouring pretty much anything eaten by
birds. The nest is a simple pile Of rush
es, or grass, fiat on the top, built in some
deep slough or pond. The eggs-two in
number--are shaped much like those Of
the common turkey, of light amber col
or, and splashed with brown. The nest
is usually surrounded by deep water, but
the young birds swim readily, and leave
it as soon as Matched. l. is believed by
many that they separate Immediately upon
leaving the nest, each Of the old birds taxi
ing care Of one--the supposiion being
that they would fight if allowed to remain
together. In corroboration Of this some
what singular idea, 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 domesticoted. I KEEP,
one for several years, who showed all the
attachment and intelligence of dog
He never forgot friend or forgave IN
injury. II any one had abused him, ii was
OF no avail to attempt disguise; he recog-
nized mis- enemies in any dress, and by an
angry croak showed his displeusure, and
warned them TO keep out Of his reach
He was a great gormandizer, and WAS We
ry fond Of field nice, many Of which he
destroyed, sping quite expert at fndipa
their nests, ald~aprehing pat the inmates
with has icng iii. He would have beer
of service in the galden, were it not foi
his iLquisitive propenslties, which lee
him to pull up for examination every
,hing he saw us plant. Though desire
for knowledge might be very laudabls
e this mode Of obtaining it met our disappro
baton, and eventually caused his Danish.
y nent.
Though migratory bird, he did no
4 seem to suffer from cold in the winter
e and being fond Of wading, even kept
place in a neighboring slough free fror
s ice till late in the season, by trampin
J. about in it. Iprovided ! him with war;
+ house, but he preferred 10 sleep with III
II cows. He always slept beside one c
them, lying flat on his breast, with hi
4 tNegs folded under him, and his head an
long neck turned back between his wing
= He was on good terms with all the cattle
and might frequently be seenplaying wit
them; his part of the performance consist
c ed in springing up, tapping his wings, an
i whooping tremendously. This was pr'
= cisely the same as the dancing Of his wi
y brethren. He would also dance TO Il
a waving Of the handkerchief; and OH wiz
dy washing-days sometimes danced Il
u hours at time 10 the clothes on the lin
% When much enragsd, he would stand vii
&c his head and bill pointed directly upwar'
's and utter harsh, croaking sound, qui
q unlike his usual whoop.
ID A young crane makes no despicable Al
tiele of food. The old ones, / should suj
pose, would be rather tough and snak
. but an old Indian hunter Of my acquail
u lance says, "a turkey is not half as goo
. eating"
> Audubon supposed this TO be only Il
, young of the white crane, but he W
wrong. The white crane is more Of
. southern bird, and exceedingly rare her
" saw pair flying over this fall for Il
first time. These two species are amoI
'' the largest and finest Of our North Am
- rican birds.
9 r. w. KENNICOTT.
" The Grove, Illinois.
II A QuAKER's LETTER-We cut 4