THE



Bvtcultural flfoagastnc


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICU LTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. VII. —NO 4. All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1901.



CRANES IN CAPTIVITY.


By the Rev. Hubert D. Astley.


There are no birds more stately or more ornamental than

the Cranes, especially where they can be given a large space in

which to walk about, where there is a goodly stretch of grass

land on the border of a pond or lake, round which grow sedges,

rushes, and water plants of various kinds ; where clumps of

bamboo and giant spiraeas form backgrounds to the beautiful

Japanese irises, as well as others of that charming species, such

as Iris siberica and the yellow flag.


Where bold groups of pampas grass and Tritoma uvaria,

or, better still, T. nobilis, give fine effects in August; and where

giant ferrels, Polygonums and Osmunda regalis mingle together

to enhance the beautiful effect of a wild garden ; pushing them¬

selves above the immense leaves of the Gunnera manicata.


In the water itself, if that splendid annual—the Canadian

rice—can be induced to sprout and root, so much , the better ;

but at any rate the Aponogeton and the many varieties that are

now to be obtained of mauy-lmed water-lilies, will bejewel the

surface, and transform an ordinary pond into a Paradise.


Here if, as I say, the space around is roomy,—for Cranes,

are, in a real flower garden, as is a bull in a china shop—these

magnificent birds can be kept.


You can have sixteen species if you like : the late Lord

Lilford had them all, I believe; but more than that number you

cannot attain to, for the very good reason that there are no more

in all the wide world.


And moreover, some of these are decidedly costly and

difficult to obtain, especially the Wattled Crane of Africa, and

the splendid White-necked Crane of Asia.


At this moment (January, 1901) I am fortunate enough

to possess five species : and these are the)'. First and foremost—



