120 INDIAN SPOETING BIEDS 



At the best of times they fly but .Httle ; if there be nothing 

 such as a fence or copse to hide a possible enemy, they will 

 rather walk a mile or two than fly, and when on the wing do 

 not rise above twenty yards even in a five-mile flight, according 

 to Hume. No doubt, however, their powers of flight are capable 

 of far greater exercise, or they could not get so far as Russia. 

 The call of the sarus is very characteristic, and the male and 

 female sing, as it were, together. First the male, raising his 

 head and bill perpendicularly, and lifting the wings at ' the 

 elbows without spreading them — much like an angry swan — 

 gives out a loud single note ; the hen instantly follows, the cock 

 replies, till the appalling duet, which can be heard two miles, is 

 finished. It will be gathered from what has been said that the 

 sarus is a pairing rather than a flocking bird, but the young 

 remain sometimes with their parents ; as two or even three eggs 

 are laid, they should make up a little flock, but, as a matter of 

 fact, often only one young bird is reared, a result to which the 

 numerous birds of prey probably contribute, in spite of the 

 watchfulness of the parents, both of which carefully attend the 

 young ones ; these are active, not helpless nestlings. 



The eggs are very large, long, and hard-shelled ; they vary, 

 but may be nearly four and a half inches in length. They are 

 spotted with pale yellowish-brown and purple on a white, pale 

 sea-green, or cream-coloured ground. 



The food of this crane is sought either on land or in 

 shallow water, but it is less of a marsh feeder than our other 

 species, and spends more time out of water than in it as a rule, 

 except when nesting. Small animals, such as lizards, frogs and 

 insects, form a large proportion of the food, though much is also 

 vegetable ; and in captivity the bird readily eats raw meat as 

 well as grain. 



The only native name that needs be noted in addition to the 

 ordinary one — Sarus — is the Kliorsang of the Assamese, in 

 whose country the bird finds its eastern limit. 



