Letters, Announcements, l^c. 237 



There are two notes in the call, the second considerably above 

 the first, D to F sharp ; and in uttering its call the bird keeps 

 the two notes quite distinct, and not slurred into each other, 

 like the call of R.superciliosus. The call of this latter bird, which 

 is extremely like that of Phylloscopus viridanus, but more bell-like 

 and musical, Mr.Blyth, as quoted by Dr. Jerdon (B. Ind.ii. p. 194) 

 would express by the words " tiss-yip." The call-note of P. tro- 

 chilus, though more mellow and musical, will give a very good 

 idea of what Mr. Blyth means. The call-notes of birds being 

 generally musical notes, cannot, however, be expressed in writing 

 by syllables, so as to give any correct idea of the real sound. 



With regard to the notes of Gi'us leucogcramis, how the 

 natives can imagine that their name, " Karekhur," or, as I 

 should call it, " Care-cur,'^ expresses any one of them, I cannot 

 conceive"^. The notes are all simply whistles, from a mellow 

 one to a peculiar feeble shrill shivering whistle, if 1 may so 

 express it. No written word will express the note of this 

 species, nor give the faintest idea of it. I watched a flock of 

 these fine birds for a long time yesterday as they fed in a marsh 

 in company with about a dozen of G. antigone, and three of 

 G. cinerea. I found it impossible to get within shot of the 

 White Cranes, nor could I get them driven over mc as I sat in 

 ambush; for, as soon as they take wing, they immediately 

 begin to soar, and circle round and round till they attain a 

 height far above the reach of any shot ; they then fly straight 

 away, uttering their peculiar whistle, which, though weak com- 

 pared with the call of other Cranes, can still be heard a mile off, 

 or even more. It is a magnificent bird, and, I think, the most 

 graceful of the group in its attitudes. The species is abundant, 

 being found in large flocks ; and the eggs might be obtained 

 from Russian sources. The plumage is so very compact and 

 Swan-like that it must go very far north to breed, where perhaps 

 its snowy plumage harmonizes with the still uumelted snow as 

 it sits upon its nest. 



I am, &c. 



W. E. Brooks. 



• [Cf. Ibis, 1868, p. 31, note.— Ed.] 



