212 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Purple 

 Heron cannot be distinguished from those of the Com- 

 mon Heron, and unless thoroughly well authenticated 

 are of no scientific value. To a great extent the nesting 

 habits of each species are different. 



Family GRUID^. Genus Grus. 



COMMON CRANE. 



Grus communis, Bechstein. 



(British : Formerly bred : Rare spring and autumn coasting 

 migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, from end of April to June, 

 according to locality. 



Breeding area : Palaearctic region. The Common 

 Crane breeds across Europe and Asia, from Scandinavia 

 to Kamtschatka, in Europe reaching as far north as lat. 

 6%''^ but in West Siberia apparently not beyond the 

 Arctic Circle, and in the far east no higher than 

 Kamtschatka. It also breeds in Eastern Asia as far 

 south as the valley of the Amoor, the Baikal area, and 

 Russian Turkestan, whilst its southern limits in Europe 

 include South Russia down to the Black Sea, Turkey, 

 the Danube valley, Italy, and Andalucia in Spain, North 

 Germany, Poland, Prussia, and Pomerania to the Elbe. 



Breeding habits : The migration of the Crane from 

 its winter quarters to its breeding grounds commences 

 as early as February and March, and continues through 

 April into May. It is a gregarious bird in winter and 

 on passage, but appears to disperse into scattered pairs 

 for the nesting season. The Crane most probably pairs 



