THE WHOOPING CRANE.
Grus americana, Temm.
PLATE CCLXI. Young.
The specimen from which the figure in this plate was drawn, was that mentioned at p. 209, as having been presented to me by Captain Clack. It has already been described at p. 213. In this state, the Whooping Crane has been considered as a distinct species, to which the name of Brown or Canada Crane, Grus canadensis, has been given.
On referring to one of my journals, written on the Gulf of Mexico, I find it stated that one of these birds came on board one dark night, and, after passing the man at the helm, fell into the yawl hanging at the stern of the ship, where in the morning it was discovered and secured. Although to appearance in good health, it refused every kind of food, and in a few days died. Knowing the great power of flight of this species, I could only conjecture that some disease operating powerfully at the moment, had caused the bird to take refuge in the boat.