214 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : The large size is a reliable 

 character, and serves to distinguish the eggs of the 

 Common Crane from those of allied British species. 



Family GRUID.E. Genus Grus. 



DEMOISELLE CRANE. 



Grus virgo {Lhinaus). 



(British : Very rare abnormal spring migrant.) 



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

 even July, according to locality and state of season. 



Breeding area : Southern Palaearctic region. In 

 Europe the Demoiselle Crane breeds in Southern Spain, 

 on the low-lying western shores of the Black Sea, and on 

 the treeless steppes of Southern Russia, between the 

 Caucasus and the fiftieth parallel of north latitude. In 

 Asia it breeds in Turkestan, South-western Siberia 

 (north to lat. 53), Dauria, the Baikal area, Eastern 

 Mongolia, and North-western China. 



Breeding habits : The Demoiselle Crane reaches its 

 breeding grounds during March and April. During 

 winter this Crane is gregarious, and even throughout the 

 breeding season is social to a great extent, although the 

 nests are scattered up and down the frequented district. 

 There can be little doubt that this Crane also pairs for 

 life, and returns regularly to certain places to breed. The 

 favourite breeding haunts of this bird are in the vicinity 

 of water on steppes, and vast sandy plains, little partiality- 

 being shown for swamps. The nest is always made upon 

 the ground, either amongst grain or grass, or, according to 



