GRUS VIRGO 277 



if we may judge from Wolley's excellent account of the nidification 

 of this species, to be found in the first volume of the Ibis. When 

 migrating the Crane may generally be observed in large flocks, flying 

 at a considerable altitude, and in regular formation, either like an 

 inverted V, or in a semicircle. Though chiefly diurnal in its habits 

 the species seems to migrate by night as well as by day, and during 

 stormy weather, when the passing flocks are forced to descend from 

 the high altitudes at which they usually travel, the loud cries of these 

 birds may often be heard close by, and immediately over the house- 

 tops. I remember, one particularly tempestuous night some years 

 ago in Palermo, listening to the deafening sound created by a large 

 flock of Cranes circling low down over the town, attracted no doubt 

 by the street lights, and seeking shelter from the storm which 

 was raging at the time. The note uttered by this bird is very loud 

 and sonorous, and may be heard at a considerable distance. 



The Crane chiefly frequents marshes and wet localities, but may 

 often be found in cultivated fields, to which it resorts for food. Bean- 

 fields in Tunisia and Sicily have a special attraction for it. Its food 

 consists of grain and pulse of different kinds, grass and the tender 

 shoots of various plants, as well as worms, reptiles and insects. 



The species nests in marshy localities, generally on slightly raised 

 ground, and builds a simple structure of flags or other aquatic plants. 

 Its eggs, usually two in number, are of an olive-grey or olive-brown 

 colour, with pale brown shell-marks and darker brown surface- 

 blotches. Average measurements 95 x 65 mm. 



GRUS YIRGO (Linnaeus.) 

 DEMOISELLE-CRANE. 



Ardea virgo, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 23-1 (1766). 



Grus virgo, Pall. Zoogr. Bosso-As. ii, p. 108 (1811) ; Malherbe, Faune 



Orn. de I'Alg. p. 30 (1855) ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 265. 

 Anthropoides virgo, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 120 (1867) ; 



Kocnig, -J. f. 0. 1893, p. 79 ; Sliaiye, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. sxiii, p. 269. 



Description.— KA\i\.i male, winter, from Spain. 



General colour pale bluish-slate ; sides of the head, chin, throat, 

 greater part of the neck and long pointed plumes on the upper breast deep 

 black ; from behind the eyes white tufts of feathers about four inches long 



