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they come first because I have had them longer than the

others—is a pair of Australian ‘ Native Companions.’ Not so

tall as the Sarus Crane of India, but still very tall and very

stately, and very ready to take offence. Very jealous too of

any invasion of their territory, so that no other bird that cannot

fly dares venture beyond a certain point.


The Australians are of a soft French grey, which is set

off—as is the Grey Parrot by his red tail—by a scarlet patch of

warty skin at the back of the head, which edges the greenish

yellow skin on the crown. To see them stride round a visitor,

their bright red-brown eyes looking defiantly, is most entertain¬

ing, the sexes shown forth by the demeanour of either bird.

The male takes much longer steps, jerkingly striding, with

uplifted head ; whilst the female, her head held on one side in a

coy manner, sidles about with lowered petticoats; that is to say,

with the elongated feathers of the wings drooping.


“ What nice tame birds! ” said some one to me not long

ago. “Yes! aren’t they?” I answered. What would happen I

well knew, but I kept silence just to see the fun of it. Nearer

and nearer came the Australians, stalking and sidling, until the

male bird being quite close to his visitor, turned his back (a way

he has) and appeared to be admiring the view in the opposite

direction. To stroke his beautiful grey feathers seemed natural,

but even as the hand was outstretched, whish ! he was round like

lightning, fiercely digging with dagger-like bill at the intruder’s

trousered legs! Tableau ! And this attack was followed by

exultant and loud trumpeting rattling cries from the Cranes,

telling out their victory to the neighbourhood for quite two miles

round ; at least that, with the wind.


Cranes are long-lived birds, and have been known to exist

for thirty-six years in captivity. Moreover, they are, as a rule,

granivorous, so that their food is cheaper and cleaner than that

of Storks, and Herons, and Ibises, etc. But they are fond of

meat greaves, bread and dog biscuit, not to mention fish, though

they can do without the latter. In the park, by the margin of

the lake, my Cranes pick up a good deal in the way of roots of

grass, either in the water or out.


They love to stand knee - deep in the shallower parts,

where, with their images reflected, they add considerably to the

features of the place. They are very hardy, and the water,

however cold, doesn’t seem to give them chilblains. Certainly

they can do without hot-water bottles, unlike ladies of my

acquaintance, who become so parasitical in this respect that



