Mr. J. Wolley, jun., on the Breeding of the Crane in Lapland. 191 



been injured, wc kept for some days in the tents ; but after a 

 time it disappeared, having probably hopped off in the night. 

 Many of the Arabs are very skilful in catching birds ; Larks 

 (Alauda), Owls {Athene and Scops), Rollers [Coracias), and now 

 and then a Little Bustard {Otis tetrax) were brought to us. I 

 am not aware that they employ other means than the burnous 

 in effecting their object. This they hold extended with both 

 hands, when, after having kicked their shoes off, that they may 

 tread more quietly, they endeavour to envelope bird, nest, and 

 eggs in the universal garment. The cry of the Scops-eared 

 Owl is admirably expressed by the Arabic name " Marouf." 



[To be continued.] 



XX. — On the Breeding of the Crane (Grus cinerea) in Lapland. 

 By John Wolley, jun. 



In common with, I believe, most people interested in such 

 matters, I was long entirely in ignorance as to the condition in 

 which the young Ci'ane {GriLs cinerea) would be found on first 

 leaving the egg, whether helpless like a young heron, or able to 

 run about like the young of most waders and of gallinaceous 

 birds. The late Prince Charles Bonaparte had inclined to think 

 they would long continue nestlings ; Mr. Gould, as he assured 

 me, had always opposed the probability of this opinion. 



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

 which the well-known Pastor Lsestadius had told me was the 

 most northern limit in Lapland of the breeding of the Crane. 

 It is in Swedish territory, being on the west side of the frontier 

 river, opposite the Finnish (Russian) village of Yli Muonioniska, 

 in about lat. 68°, that is, some distance within the Arctic Circle. 

 This great marsh, called " Iso noma," is mostly composed of 

 soft bog, in which, unless where the Bog-bean grows, one 

 generally sinks up to the knees, or even to the middle ; but it 

 is intersected by long strips of firmer bog- earth, slightly raised 

 above the general level, and bearing creeping shrubs, principally 

 of sallow and dwarf birch, mixed in places with Ledum palustre, 

 Vaccinium uliginosum, Andromeda polifolia, Rubus chamamorus, 

 besides grasses, carices, mosses, and other plants. There were 



