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Tolerably common summer resident; common along the boundary after leaving Pembina; breeding (Coues). Winnipeg: Summer resident; tolerably common (Hine). Dufferin: Arrives between April 25 and 30 (Dawson). Swamp Island: 1885, first seen, one, on June 10; rare and does not breed here; in fall, last seen September 7; 1886, first seen, two, on May 1; bulk arrived May 3 (Plunkett). Norway House (Bell, 1880). Oak Point: 1884, arrived April 19, 1885; first seen, two, on April 15; next seen on April 16; is common and breeds here (Small). Portage la Prairie: Tolerably common summer resident; breeds near here; arrives in April; first seen in 1884, April 21 (Nash). Carberry: Common; in migration, a few breed; also at Fingerboard, Shoal Lake, west, and Russell (Thompson). Assiniboine, near the White Sand, and at the mouth of the Shell, 1881; also, saw young ones near Moose Mountain, June, 1880 (Macoun). Two Rivers: 1885, first seen, two, on April 16; next seen, one, on April 19; became common April 23; is pretty common here and breeds (Criddle). Dalton: 1889, first seen, one, on April 12; next seen on April 13, when it became common (Youmans). Shell River: 1885, first seen, two, on April 19; seen every day afterwards; is common all summer and breeds here (Calcutt). White Sand River in May (Christy). Qu’Appelle: Transient; passing over, April 28 to May 1 (Guernsey). Trout Lake Station (Murray).

The first intimation that we usually have of the advent of the crane is the loud trumpeting or croaking that seems to shake the air for miles. But soon we begin to see the birds themselves, usually in pairs, even at this early season. Their food now is chiefly rosepips, and as they stalk over the bare plains gathering this manna of the feathered race, ample opportunity is offered for observation. At first one sees little to note beyond their excessive wariness, but as the warmer weather quickens their feeling, these majestic stalkers, these stately trumpeters, may often be seen so far forgetting their dignity as to wheel about and dance, flapping their wings and shouting as they “honor their partners,” and in various ways contrive to exhibit an extraordinary combination of awkwardness and agility. This dance is no doubt one of the courting maneuvers, for I have observed it only during the pairing season.

It has been asked if these cranes breed in communities. To this I reply, I never saw anything to lead me to such a conclusion; all cases of their nesting that have come under my notice were those of isolated pairs.

The localities they select are generally damp meadows, not necessarily near the sand hills, the chiefly desired surroundings being rank grass wherein to forage, and scrubby or undulating land for cover.

When first they enter the wide world the two or three young ones are provided with a coat of reddish yellow down and an apparently superfluous length of limb. I perceive by reference to authorities, that the cranes are “præcoces,” which being interpreted meaneth “they are clothed and can run and feed themselves as soon as hatched.” Not having seen the young cranes at this interesting period, I can not gainsay the above statement; but know that a young one taken at the end of June, and evidently 2 or 3 weeks old, made such a poor attempt at walking that he reflected but little credit on the noble order of præcoces to which his family belongs. And yet I must admit that when I first came on him he ran with very fair speed, and as his parents contrived to monopolize my attention for a time he escaped into the scrub, but later on was found squatting as still as death. He looked then deceptively like a red rabbit or a small fox. On being touched he sprang up uttering a gentle “peeping” which contrasted strangely with the strong croaks of his parents. He ran for a few yards with the grace and celerity of a Cochin fowl, but soon weakened and was obliged to sit on his heels.

I took him home and found that he spent fully half his time in this elegant position, and that, moreover, although he ate well and seemed in good health, he was scarcely able to stand erect excepting in the heat of the day, and when he attempted to rise he was almost sure to fall once or twice through his neck getting entangled with his shanks in a most unpræcocial manner; nevertheless, he grew and fledged and became quite tame. Then came two other pets to share the building wherein he had so long dwelt alone; they were a Peregrine Falcon and a Swainson’s Buzzard. For a time all went well; the crane seemed to have strength enough and beak enough to take care of himself. Then I found out that he would even share the Falcon’s food, so I offered him a sparrow; he seized it savagely and, uttering a peculiar harsh note, pinned it to the ground with his bayonet-like bill, then stabbed it again and again, and at last, having reduced it to a shapeless mass, he swallowed it. So that, although I have found only berries, grain, grass, and insects in the gizzards of old ones so far, I think it is likely that they will also eat frogs, mice, or small birds.

How it came about I never could tell, but one morning after a storm I found the peregrine sitting on the dead body of the crane; I did not at once remove it, and when I came again the two bandits had nearly eaten my gentle pet.

Several of the neighbors also have tried to rear young cranes and almost always with success and satisfaction, for, although it is difficult to keep them over winter, they become so tame and are so interesting during their stay that their owners feel amply rewarded for what little trouble they have taken with them. As a game bird I am inclined to place the present species first on the Manitoban list, as the White Crane and the swans are too rare for insertion on a list of species that the sportsman may pursue with regularity and success. An average specimen weighs about 9¾ or 10 pounds, and the quality of the flesh is unsurpassed by that of any of our ordinary birds unless it be the partridge. I should strongly advocate the protection of this bird by the game law were it not that it is so thoroughly well able to take care of itself that legislation in its favor seems altogether unnecessary.

The young cranes are apparently strong on the wing in August, for at this time small bands of the species may be seen sailing high over the prairie, apparently strengthening their wings before they are compelled to journey southward for the season. As September draws nigh their numbers are increased, and the long array of the grand birds present a most imposing spectacle as in serpentine lines they float away after the sun.