THIS NEXT INSTALLMENT ON CONTINUING STUDIES OF BIRD anatomy features the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), indigenous only to North America. Sandhill cranes are in the family Gruidae, from the Greek word for crane, geranos. Cranes are actually hunted to the tune of some 15,000 taken each year, which I found somewhat surprising; I did not think they were good eating, but one fellow I know calls them “flying tenderloins.” Many taxidermists are faced with the tasks of mounting them with little reference. I thought it would add a bit of interest to look at a completely different species. It is perhaps not as commonly mounted as others, but nonetheless an outstanding subject.

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