ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



725 



NESTING CRANE IN THE ZOOLOGICAl, PARK. 



temper sliould allow it to fall from grace ; its 

 engaging waj's excite the admiration of all who 

 have opportunity to observe them. This crane 

 is quite willing to breed in confinement, and has 

 done so in this countrjr on at least two occasions. 

 The Crowned Crane, {Balcarica pavonina),oi 

 western Africa, differs from all the others in the 

 possession of an occipital patch of straw-like 

 plumes, from which it derives its name. It is a 

 handsome bird, the blackish slate of its body 

 plumage being contrasted by white wing-coverts 

 and chestnut secondaries. The sides of the head 

 are bare and colored white above and pink be- 

 low; there are two small, pinkish wattles on the 

 throat. This crane is uncommon in America, 

 very few having been imported. It is long- 

 lived and attractive, and not so determined a 

 root digger as most others ; but its temper, 

 among the ? i/rty's specimens, at least, is de- 

 cidedly choleric. 



All of the cranes 

 nest on the ground, 

 usually in marshes 

 or on open plains, 

 forming their nests 

 of grass and rushes. 

 The eggs are gen- 

 erally whitish o r 

 buff in color, 

 double-spotted with 

 yrllow or b r o w n 

 lildtclu'S, and eom- 

 nionly two in i\um- 

 lier. 



Young cranes 



are most precocious, 



;ruwned CRANE. bciug able to r u n 



about quite freely soon after 

 hatching. For a short time be- 

 fore the youngsters commence 

 to forage for themselves, their 

 food consists mainly of insects 

 brought to them bj^ the old birds. 

 The parent birds are very devot- 

 ed to their offspring, caring for 

 them with great solicitude and 

 guarding them valiantly against 

 intruders. If an attempt to 

 breed cranes in captivity is to 

 be made, a large, grassy run 

 should be provided for the ex- 

 elusive use of the family, as anx- 

 iety for the welfare and safety 

 of the chicks is apt to make the 

 jsarents over zealous in the treat- 

 ment of the others in the same corral. 



An adult crane is a formidable antagonist, not 

 to be despised even by a man. Frequently some 

 members of the collection are so savage that they 

 must be isolated and the keeper must then con- 

 tinually guard himself against attack. The 

 crane stretches his long neck to the uttermost 

 and without hesitation makes frantic thrusts with 

 his powerful beak, so swift and certain that the 

 eye can scarcely follow the movement. 



An interesting characteristic of cranes is their 

 habit of indulging at frequent intervals in gro- 

 tesque dances, which may be performed by an 

 individual, or by a group in graceful unison. 

 The leader starts ofE leaping and bowing, with 

 broad wings widely expanded; now seizing a 

 leaf or bit of stick, now tossing it aside in capric- 

 ious disdain. The spirit of the dance is in- 

 fectious, and instantly the enclosure is a turmoil 

 of leaping, bobbing birds, each striving to outdo 

 the others in ex- 

 travagance of ges- 

 ture and motion. 



INIost of the spe- 

 c i e s are provided 

 with lusty voices, 

 which they delight 

 to use with great 

 freedom. However, 

 the tones, which 

 are clear and trum- 

 ))et-like, are far 

 from disagreeable, 

 and detract nothing 

 from the perform- 

 er's eligibility to a 

 favored place in the 

 list of captives. demoiselle CRANE. 



