22 GItUS CINEREA. 



The bill is greenish-black, tinged with red at the base, 

 and with more than an inch of the tips greyish-yellow, or 

 horn-colour. The bare skin on the head is red, the iris 

 brownish-red, the feet and claws black. The general colour 

 of the plumage is light ash-grey ; a triangular elongated 

 patch on the neck very dark grey; the whole fore part 

 blackish-grey. The alula and primary quills, with their 

 coverts, are greyish-black, with brown shafts ; the secondaries 

 of the general grey colour, tinged with dusky at the end, 

 and white at the base, as are their coverts. The tail-feathers 

 are similar to the secondaries, and, like them, have the shafts 

 white. 



Length to end of tail 46 inches ; bill along the ridge 4^ ; 

 wing from flexure 21 ; tarsus 9^- ; third toe 3 ; its claw 5^. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but smaller. 



Habits. No specimen of this bird having been obtained 

 in any part of the country in which I have resided, I have 

 been obliged to take my descriptions from preserved skins. 

 Its habits, as observed on the Continent, are as follows : — 

 "About the end of spring, the Cranes are seen advancing 

 northward, in flocks, arranged in lines or triangles, although, 

 as they frequently fly by night, their passage is only known 

 by the loud clear cries which they emit at intervals. They 

 generally keep at a great height, fly in a sedate manner, 

 alight in the temperate parts of Europe only to feed or rest 

 for a short time, and proceed to the most northern regions, 

 where they pass the summer. Although they ascend to a 

 great elevation, and sustain a very extended flight, they do 

 not rise from the ground without some difficulty, but run 

 a few steps, unfolding their wings, before they take their 

 spring. They fly in bands, and observe a regular order; 

 form a triangle in the air when the atmosphere is tranquil ; 

 keep close together when the wind is violent or contrary ; 

 and arrange themselves in a circle to struggle against the 

 tempest. It is usually by night that they travel. One of 

 them, who may be regarded as the leader, frequently emits a 

 loud cry, which is repeated by all the rest. When they have 



