228 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



whole plumage is pale fulvous, with black and white marks. 

 Her eyes are dull yellow. She is rather the larger, raeasur- 

 inrr 27 inches in full lenofth. 



THE CRANES. 



Family — Griiidce. 



Genus — Gnts. G. antigone. Sarus Crane. 



G. lencogcranos. Wliite Crane. 



Externally the Cranes seem to be allied to the bustards, 

 but their internal anatomy is more akin to that of the 

 ])lovers ; they are of large size, have long necks and legs, and 

 feed on grain, plus insects, frogs, and lish ; the head is either 

 crested or altofrethcr devoid of feathers ; their figure is 

 elegant, and their movements are graceful ; they fly with 

 outstretched neck, and have a loud trumpeting call ; they 

 are mostly of migratory habits, and gregarious. The nest 

 is placed on the ground, and the young arc able to run 

 about almost from tlie ag^s^. 



Sarus Crane. — This crane is found throughout the 

 greater part of India, as well as in Burmah. It consorts 

 in pairs, and the female lays two pale bluish green eggs, 

 with a few red spots on them. It is a bold and fearless 

 bird, and has bred in captivity. 



The head and neck are naked, and covered for three or 

 four inches down the latter by numerous crimson papilUv 

 and a few black hairs, which accumulate into a broad ring 

 on the neck, and form a kind of mane down the nape ; the 

 ear coverts are white, and below them the neck is whitish 

 grey, which gradually passes into pale blue, which is the 

 colour of the rest of the plumage ; the quills and the inner 

 webs of the tail feathers are dusky slate. In the breeding 

 season these birds assume a white collar below the crimsoi* 



