The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
DANCE OF TIE sANDHILL CRANES.
Peculiar WooinE of the LonR-Legged Birds
Seen on Illinois Plains.

Peculiar WooinE of the Long-LeCged Birds
Seen on Illinois Plains.
When I was n boy in Illinois," said native
OF that State. now u New York lawyer the
greatest fun we had along in the spring OF the
year, was to creep up through the prairie grass
to the islands, as the scattered tracts OF timber
were called. and get as noar as We could to
where colony OF sandhill cranes had their
home and watch the long legged birds at what
we called their cotillon parties. Sandhill cranes
were plentiful on the pTa,rtes ia those days,
and used to play havoc among tho wheat and
corn fields. There would always be dozen or
moro OF the cranes In the dance. and one soi-
tary one standing OIL by itself. For a long time
we took it for granted that this one was SEN
tincl posted to watch for the approach OF
danger, and to warn the dancers, so
they might take themselves off, for tho
sandhill cranes were extremely shy, and dis
appeared at the slightest suspicion Of danger.
The greatest part Of the fun was the fights that
would occur between tho dancers. in which
more than ono crane would be knocked out.
The dance usually ended in a free fight, in
which the crane that We supposed was q senti-
mel always joined, and then flew away with
some Of the others that were left. An old pio-
neer told us. by and by. that the crane we sup
posed was sentinel was a female crane. and
that the dance OF the others was not intended
to be a terpschorean revel. but was simply the
male cranes way Of woong the favor OF the
fair. statement which later knowledge of the
habits OF sandhill cranes. as well as other
feathered wild creatures corrohorated.
"Ordinarlly. there isn't a more solemn or
dgnifed bird living than the sandhill crane. or
one that more lovesrepose, but at woong time
he loses his dignity and makes himself about
as ridiculous ty his fantastic actions az any
s,,..
and becomes regular dervish. Apparently the
GrotosQue actions Of the male sandhlll crane at
this season are to show his grace and endu-
| rance before the female he woos. in competi-
ton with other woOers. and it Is evident that
she selects from the competitors the one that
! strikes her as best filling her idea OF what
proper mates accomplishments should be. Tho
sandhill crane is not the only bird that woos
grotesIuely and even pugnaciously. The wild
turkey. the bustard. the humming bird. the
pinnated grouse. the woodpecker. the bluejay
tho little snipe, known as the run. the cock OF
the rock, the night hawk. the quail and many
others conduct their counting after similar
peculiar methods.
When party OF rival sandhill cranes meet
to exhibit their attractions to the female they
desire for a mate they frst ruifie up their
feathers, spread out their wings, and comfort
their long and flexible necks into the most in
tricate shapes and positions. Then with light
and dandyfed tread and affected gait they pass
| in review before the female. who stands apart,
| a solemn and entirely undemons trative locker
| on. Now a crane will pirouette on one long
| leg. putting his neck and body through all
sorts OF grotesque movements. then change to
the other leg. posturing while balanced on that.
| He will suddenly abandon these antics and
| make short. erratic flights in the air. some
times actually turning snmerSaults while
! himself Ike puCilist in a fight, lodging his
head quickly from side to side and back ward.
6S vi SyIodng blows and then striking
ing the impression that he is hitting at imnGi.
nary foes Sometimes he will throw himself
legs in the air, and almost tie himself in knot
by running his long neck between them. Sin
VIII parade themselves in this way, and then
advance, in pairs and DOUBLE pairs, threes,
will give the appearance to the spectator OF
actually going Though the figures OF some in;
,EEcat TREAT dance As the exercises are prolonged
| frenzy. and Iump and leap AMI comfort them
selves until one 10y one they become ex;
sufficiently Refreshed to join again In the fan
tastie prorc"dtnG,,
for hours, varied by frequent fights between
| rivals. which are so desperate and savage that
The contestants TO be- Killed III f In a. the he smH
Sometimes the female after putting tho WOO
er1s to q long and severe test OF their powers.
will deliberately rise and fly away, but usually
| she makes choice from the contestants. That
choice is always followed by fight. one or
more OF the disappoiinted wooers being sure 70
pitch into the favorite. But then the latter will
have the aid OF the female, who will fight for
| him as desperately as any Of the males. II the
| pair find themEelvos too hardly pressed by the
| others, they Will beat retreat and fly away to-
| Gcther sometimes followed by the others. who
| continue the night in mlnr.
-, There are no more sandh!l cranes. on the
| Illinois prairies. but there are pehtyiof them
on the plains OF Dakota, as the wheat farmers
| know to their sorrow. and l have no doubt. II
he is smart enough, the DAKOTA small boy gets
as much fun out OF the cranes spring cotillon
parties as the Illinois small boy did. years and
l. Year, ago."