Ornithology of Japan. 177 



dark slate-grey, witli a narrow streak of white on the throat. 

 They measure: — wing 12-5, ITO; bill in front 3-6, 3-4; 

 tarsus 3-5, 3-0 ; mid-toe without claw 2*6, 2-4 ; bare portion of 

 tibia 1-6, 1-3. The range of this species appears to extend 

 from the Andaman Islands eastwards to Burma, the Malay 

 Archipelago, Japan, and the north-east coasts of iVustralia, 

 Almost everywhere it seems to be accompanied by a white 

 variety, with which it appears to interbreed, producing pie- 

 bald examples. It is said, however, that in South-east Aus- 

 tralia and in New Zealand the slate-grey form alone occurs. 

 Both forms, however, are recorded from some of the Pacific 

 islands. From Ceylon eastwards as far as "West Africa a 

 very nearly allied species, A. gularis, is found in both the slate- 

 grey and white forms. It is said to differ in having the chin, 

 throat, and sides of the head white, and in being a somewhat 

 larger bird ; but ornithologists are not agreed on the specific 

 distinctions between these species. Examples of the slate- 

 grey form of the eastern species collected by Siebold in Japan 

 are recorded by Schlegel (Mus. Pays-Bas, Ardese, p. 27), but 

 no mention is made of them in the ' Fauna Japonica.' 



Grus cinerea. 



Of the six Cranes which breed in Eastern Siberia five are 

 recorded from Japan. Of these, only four appear in Tem- 

 minck and SchlegcFs ' Fauna Japonica,' the Sacred or 

 Mantchurian Crane being omitted, no doubt for the very 

 good reason that the Japanese would not allow Siebold or his 

 collectors to procure one. The Common Crane is a winter 

 visitor to Japan, but many only pass on migration, wintering 

 still further south. 



Grus leucogeranus. 



The same remarks apply to the Asiatic White Crane. 



Grus leucauchen. 

 Grus antigone, Linn, apud Pallas. 

 Grus vipio, Pall, apud David and Oustalet. 

 Grus antigone ?, Linn, apud Blakiston and Pryer. 

 The White-naped Crane is the most abundant Crane in 

 Japan. Mr. Ringer Las' sent two skins from Nagasaki. 



