212 ORNAMENTS OF THE VELD 



blue-grey colour throughout, excepting the crown of the 

 head, which is white, and the apical portion of the secon- 

 daries, which are black. Length, 48 inches. 



It is confined to South Africa ; we found it particularly 

 plentiful on the " flats " of the Orange Free State, in the 

 Brandfort and Winburg districts, and in the Central Trans- 

 vaal at certain seasons. 



It feeds on a variety of substances, including locusts and 

 other insects, small reptiles, and the like. 



It congregates into flocks during the winter months, 

 separating into pairs in the breeding season. 



It lays two large pale-brown eggs (with sometimes a 

 greenish tinge), spotted and blotched with purplish and dark 

 brown, and measuring generally about 3| inches in length. 



The young, when unfledged, boar quite a singular resem- 

 blance to young ostrich chicks. These become very tame in 

 captivity, and may often be seen stalking about the farmyards. 



The Ciowncd Crane (Balearica regulorum), known also by 

 the vernacular names of " Kaffir Crane " and " Mahem," is 

 easy of recognition in its slate, white and black plumage, 

 velvety black crown, ornamented by a large crest of pale- 

 yellowish bristles, and the patches of naked red and white 

 skin on the cheeks. Length, about 40 inches. 



It ranges from the Cape Province to Khodesia, and over 

 to the northern portion of South- West Africa, 



Like the Blue Crane, the Mahem assembles into flocks 

 during the winter, and pairs off to breed in the summer. It 

 prefers the open veld, but is seldom found far from moist 

 localities, such as vleis or rivers, where it seeks its food 

 consisting of frogs and lizards, locusts and other insects. 



Unlike its congener, the Blue Crane, it breeds in a swamp or 

 \ lei. constructing its nest of reeds, rushes, &c, just above the 

 sui lace of the water, and lays two eggs of a bluish- white colour. 



