62



Crowned Cranes.



CROWNED CRANES IN UGANDA.


(From a letter from F. M. Isemonger, District Officer, Mbale

Uganda, September, 1915).


“ . . . Gardening has taken up most of my spare time


lately ; this week I have had rose-trees and mangoes moved out of

the nurseries. One early morning my young pet Crested Crane

followed me down there, and on the way we met two huge full-

grown wild Cranes. I hid behind a tree and watched a fascinating

scene. The wild birds stalked up and circled l’ound my pet with

their gorgeous wings outstretched over it. The young one took

sundry pecks from them very meekly and then opened its beak as if

to be fed. Very curious, that, as it is long past the age when it would

be fed by its pai'ents. It seemed to me almost an involuntary action,

a remembrance of the last time it was with its own kind. The three

stalked about together and fed on grass seed and grasshoppers for

some time, but, at my call, the pet left the two wild ones and came

to me. The old birds were much excited by this, but by going gently

with the pet I got within a few yards of them. The full-grown crane

has magnificent plumage and colouring—black beak, black velvet,

pompom, gold crest, slender neck of beautiful pearl grey, rich red-

brown wings streaked with white and black feathers, with two or

three feathery pure gold ones overlying the tips. A brilliant crimson

pouch adds a fine finish. About 4 ft. high, and very graceful. . . .


My pet lets the children handle him, and is generally friendly, but

shows a marked preference to me—as he should ! . . .”



AN OUTDOOR AVIARY IN THE REIGN

OF LOUIS XVI.


In the very interesting book by Nesta FI. Webster lately

published, ‘ The Chevalier de Boufflers,’ we find that Madame de

Sabran frequently stayed with the old Due de Nivernais at Saint-

Ouen, just outside Paris. One reads that—“ Nothing more enchanting

than this country house of the Due de Nivernais can be imagined.

It stood on the banks of the Seine, and from the magnificent terrace



