CRANE. 183 



wards, the Crane ranges across Siberia to Kamscbatka, tbe 

 Amoor and Japan, breeding in tbe morasses to tbe nortb of 

 tbe principal watersheds, and wintering in China and in 

 India, where, especially in the Punjaub and North-West 

 Provinces, immense flocks are sometimes to be seen in the 

 grain fields.* On its migrations it has been observed cross- 

 ing the lofty ranges of Central Asia, and Prjevalski, when at 

 the height of 10,600 feet, observed flock following flock 

 during the whole day at such an enormous altitude that they 

 could hardly be seen. 



In mild climates, the Crane commences nidification about 

 the end of April, but in the north eggs are hardly to be 

 found before the middle of May. The nest is invariably 

 placed on the ground, on the drier portions of marshes, and 

 the eggs are as a rule two in number, although Meves 

 has known as many as three : of a pale greenish-olive 

 ground colour, blotched and spotted with reddish-brown 

 surface-markings and pale brown underlying shell- spots ; 

 they measure about 3*8 by 2*6 in. The best and earliest 

 circumstantial account of the nesting of the Crane is, 

 undoubtedly, that given by the late Mr. John Wol ley, in 'The 

 Ibis,' 1859, pp. 191-198. Since that date several British 

 ornithologists have made the acquaintance of the Crane in 

 its breeding-haunts, and the charm of novelty has, perhaps, 

 so far passed away that naturalists of the present and of 

 succeeding generations may marvel at the thrill of en- 

 thusiasm communicated to Wolley's contemporaries by the 

 narrative of his discovery ; yet the fact remains that no one 

 of his successors has ever rivalled his description, which, 

 with a prosaic adherence to facts, is at the same time 

 steeped in the poetic feeling of the true lover of nature. 

 It is much to be regretted that only a portion can here be 

 quoted : — 



" It was on the 15th June, 1853, that I entered the marsh 



* The late ]Mr. E. Blyth (Monograpli of the Cranes, pp. 59 and 61) considered 

 that the oriental race which visited India during the cold season, and which is 

 pres\imably identical with the Japanese bird, was distinguishable from the occi- 

 dental race. 



