DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



Distribution. — The crowned crane occurs chiefly in the 

 eastern parts of the Cape and in Natal, where it is common ; 

 and northwards in the Transvaal and Rhodesia. 



Habits. — The crowned crane, or " mahem," as it is called 

 by the Dutch, is generally found in small parties of from 

 10 to 30 individuals during the winter, and in pairs during the 

 summer. It is never found far from marshy ground, where it 

 spends its time in searching for its food, which consists chiefly 

 of water snails, frogs, large insects, and small reptiles. When 

 seeking for its food it marches about with a most stately gait, 

 and, like the blue crane, is also very fond of dancing and 

 performing weird antics with its head bowed and wings out- 

 stretched. It has a very melodious call, the last part of which 

 has earned for it the name mahem. The crowned crane, 

 when reared in captivity, becomes very much attached to its 

 owner, and may safely be trusted with its liberty. It is very 

 useful in the garden for keeping the insect pests in check. 

 The nest is usually built among the long, thick grass in some 

 swamp. It is conical in structure, and is composed of rushes 

 and reeds pulled and worked together; The eggs are 2 in 

 number, and measure approximately 3.44 by 2.3. When 

 newly laid they are bluish-white in colour, but become 

 greenish and finally brown, owing to the dampness of the nest. 

 The breeding season in the Cape is between December and 

 February. 



Giant Bustard, or Gom Paauw {Otis kori). (Vol. II., 

 p. 278.) 



Description. — Crown of head black, the feathers being 

 elongate, forming a conspicuous crest, down the centre of which 

 is a paler line. Sides of head, eyebrows, ear coverts, neck, and 

 upper breast white, with narrow transverse bands of black. 

 The feathers on the neck are long and loose. The back and 

 wings are a dark brown with pale sandy vermiculations. Median 

 and greater coverts are white mottled with black and grey, there 

 being a broad black subterminal bar before the white tip. 

 Quills dark brown. Outer secondaries tipped with white. The 



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