a 
BALEARICA CHRYSOPELARGUS. 629 
drooping feathers are readily bought by traders from up the country, 
who sell or exchange them to the native tribes. They become very 
tame in confinement, and will eat out of the hand and follow one 
about. I have so far never shot them further north than within a 
few miles south of Lydenburg.”’? Mr. Ayres also writes from the 
Transvaal :—“ These Cranes are not at all uncommon in this country. 
In the summer months they are generally seen in pairs, stalking 
about the open flats in search of insects ; in winter they congregate 
in certain localities and live sociably together. One of these spots 
is on the Mooi River, about ten miles above its junction with the 
Vaal River, and another is on the banks of the Vaal River, about 
twenty miles below Bloemhof. These birds feed on seeds and roots 
as well as on insects, and their flesh is not at all bad eating; slices 
from the breast, fried with butter, are scarcely to be distinguished 
in taste from excellent beef. Blue Cranes (as this species is locally 
called) sometimes rise to an immense height in the air, uttering their 
peculiarly loud guttural note. When on the ground they frequently 
amuse themselves by dancing round each other, with wings extended, 
bowing and scraping to each other in a most absurd manner, not a 
little curious to see.” It was observed by Mr. Jameson’s expedition 
in the Mashoona country, in September and October. 
“This very graceful Crane,” says Mr. Andersson, “is not uncommon 
in Damara and Great Namaqua Land during the rainy season, but 
migrates on the return of the dry. It is found in the open country, 
as well as in the moist beds of periodical streams, and always in 
pairs. It is rather a timid bird, and is rarely to be obtained, except 
with the rifle. The stomachs of the few individuals I have opened 
contained nothing but insects and a large quantity of gravel.” It 
is not recorded from South-Western Africa by Professor Barboza du 
Bocage. 
Entirely of a leaden-blue, with the exception of the upper portion 
of the head, which is white, and the ends of the long drooping 
plumes of the wings, which are black. Length, 4’ 4”; wing, 3’ 10" 
(including the drooping plumes) ; tail, 1’ 2”. 
Fig. Gray, Knowsl. Menag. pl. 14. 
605. Batearica curysopeLarcus (Licht.). Southern Crowned Crane. 
Balearica regulorum, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 304. 
The “Crowned” or “Kafir Crane” is more common in the 
