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NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



ORDER- ALECT0RIDE5. 



FAMILY— GRUID^ : CRANES. 



590. — Antigone australasiana, Gould. — (543) 

 CRANE OR NATIVE COMPANION. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 48. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiii., p. 265. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (184S) , 

 also Handbook, vol. ii., p. 291 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 314 (1S89). 



Geographical Di.itribution. — Australia in general. 



Nest. — Flat, consisting of a layer of coarse grass (pulled up by the 

 roots) and reeds, mixed with lumps of hard bark, sticks, &c., and 

 situated on a knoll of gi'ound or " islet " in a swampy situation. 

 Dimensions over all, about 36 inches; height, 5 or 6 Laches; diameter 

 at top, 24 inches. Sometimes there is only a semblance of a nest, when 

 the eggs rest upon the bare gi'oimd. 



Eggs. — Clutch, invariably two ; usually elongated in shape, pointed 

 or compre.sscd towards one end ; texture of shell exceedingly coarse ; 

 surface glossy and pitted ; colour, light-drab or dirty white, blotched, 

 cliiefly about the apex, with umber and purplish-brown. In some parts 

 of the Tropics the eggs are of a vmiform dull-white colour, without 

 markings. Dimensions in inches, large examples: (1) 3'9 x '2-45, 

 (2) 3-7 X 2-65 ; small examples : (1) 3-65 x 2-4, (2) 3-5 x 2-35. (Plate 20.) 



Observations. — In the large and familiar fig^-c of the Native Com- 

 panion, or Australian Crane, we have a conspicuous plain wanderer. 

 Like the Wild Turkey, it is common in most parts of Australia, where 

 it is the sole representative of its kind. It has a soldier-like 

 appearance in its luiiform of grey, with red facings (the bare flesh 

 about the face and back of head is bright-red). The extraordinary 

 qiuidrille parties, and grotesque motions in capering " corrol)borces ' 

 of these birds have been witnessed with pleasiu'c by most dwellers 

 of the plain. 



It is to be regretted that the name of the Native Companion was 

 ever removed from the Victorian Schedule of Protected Birds, for it 

 is an exceedingly ornamental bird, and its figure greatly enhances the 

 charm of any landscape; moreover, it kills vermin, such as snakes, 

 while its flesh is good for the table. It is somewhat remarkable that 

 the Cr.iTie does not occur in the south-western pari, of Australia, 

 although I have included West Australia in the geogi-aphical range, 



