630 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
eastern frontier of the colony, than about the western extremity, 
perhaps owing to the latter being more settled and cultivated, as it 
is found in considerable numbers to the north and north-west. 
Mr. Arnot sent a magnificent egg of this species, procured in 
Mahura’s country. It is of a dull pale brown tinged with green, 
and obscurely marked with faint reddish brown, confused blotches 
chiefly at the obtuse end, with here and there a dark mark standing 
out prominently. Axis, 3’ 6” ; diam., 2” 5”. 
At East London, Mr. Rickard informs us, it is not very common 
in the immediate neighbourhood, but becomes more numerous 
towards the Kei. It is called “‘ Mohimo.” Near Kingwilliamstown, 
Captain Trevelyan says, it is not uncommon. Messrs. Butler and 
Feilden and Capt. Reid state that in Natal they frequently observed 
this Crane in the more open veldt, generally not far from a ‘‘ vley ” 
or marshy spot. It appears to breed in the neighbourhood of 
Newcastle, though no nests were found. Reid met with a family 
party in the Ingagane Drift in June and July. It is called “ Mahem” 
by the colonists, from their note; but Captain Reid says that he 
was squatting in a vley within ten yards of a party of them fora 
quarter of an hour, and after listening to their notes all this time, 
he could only make these out to resemble “ aan-aan—nor-aan,” 
uttered very softly and plaintively. From the Transvaal Mr. Ayres 
writes :—“ These handsome Cranes are generally, though sparsely, 
distributed over the country, and have much the same habits as the 
Stanley Cranes, with which they occasionally associate, as flocks of 
each may be seen feeding together on the banks of the Vaal River 
below Bloemhof.” The nest was found in an extensive swamp on 
the banks of the Mooi River, about twenty miles from Potchefstroom, 
and was composed of rushes pulled and placed in a conical form on 
the rank long grass, which fell over from its own weight and formed 
a thick carpet of vegetation, often more than a foot thick; the rest 
was built where the water was about ankle deep, and contained two 
eggs only. 
Mr. F. A. Barratt gives the following note :—“ In the district of 
Potchefstroom this bird is not at all uncommon. I have seen them 
between Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, and Pretoria. In the winter 
they may be seen half-a-dozen together; but in the time of nidifi- 
cation they are only found in pairs. I have never seen two pairs 
breeding together in the same vley, but always some distance apart ; 
