On the Breeding of the White-necked Crane. 481 



In writing of Chlamydodera maculata Mr. North describes 

 tliese antics as follows : — " Standing on tip-toes, with 

 lowered head and the pink frill on the nape erect, the 

 male will run, sometimes sideways, through and around the 

 bower, stopping perhaps to alter a decoraiion or to throw 

 up his w ing, or lie down on his side " (Nests & Eggs B. of 

 Austr. vol. i. p. 46) . In my journal I describe the playground 

 of this species as follows : — " It was built near a clump of 

 small 'sandal-wood^ trees upon an open and exposed piece 

 of ground so that it could easily be seen from a distance. 

 The neat alley-Avay of sticks was well and firmly put 

 together and was adorned at both ends by an assortment of 

 bleached bones, mixed with a few shells and stones of the 

 'wild plum^ fruit. There were also a few pebbles and 

 pieces of glass among the decorations.^' 



XIX. — On the Breeding of the White-necked Crane (Anthro- 

 poides leucauchen) at Gooilust, 'sGravelund. By F. E. 

 Blaauw, C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



A PAIR of White-necked Cranes, which I had kept in an 

 enclosed garden in my park for five years, began to nest for 

 the first time in May 1906, and at the present moment 

 (April 1908) the birds are sitting on two eggs for the third 

 time. 



The garden in which they are kept has a small pond^ 

 •which is partly surrounded by conifers and Japanese bamboos 

 and is fully exposed to the sun. On a little elevation near 

 the edge of the pond, amidst tall-growing weeds, the nest 

 was placed, composed of a few dry stalks. The first egg 

 was laid on the 12th of May and the second followed two 

 days later. Incubation began as soon as the first egg was 

 laid. 



The enclosure being kept very quiet, the birds remained, 

 rather shy and thus gave me an opportunity of observing 



