GRUID&, 341 
becomes brighter in color; and in old birds, the tertiaries and 
some of the scapulars become white and more lengthened, hang- 
ing over gracefully and exceeding the tail. 
The young have the head and neck dull ferruginous. 
The Sarus is a common permanent resident throughout 
Rajputana and Guzerat, but is very rare in Sind and does not 
occur at all in the Deccan. 
They breed towards the middle of the rains; the nest, a huge 
heap of rushes and straw, is placed generally on some spot sur- 
rounded by water ; occasionally it is commenced in the water 
itself, in which case the egg cavity is about 8 or 10 inches above 
the surface of the water. The eggs, two in number, are eclongat- 
ed ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end; the shell is hard 
and strong, pitted with small pores, is generally somewhat glossy, 
and frequently exhibit creases or wrinkles. The ground color 
varies from pure white to pale sea-green and pinky-cream color ; 
occasionally they are spotless and quite devoid of markings, but 
generally they are more or less blotched and clouded with pale 
yellowish-brown and purplish-pink. 
The eggs vary greatly in size; in length from 3°6 to 4°48, and 
in breadth from 2°35 to 2°75. They average 3:96 in length by 
2°56 in breadth. 
The Sarus occasionally breeds in the cold weather, as on the 
5th February 1885, while shooting with General Nuttall at 
Gangrar about 60 miles from Neemuch, I found a nest containing 
two fresh eggs, and again on the 30th March at Jeerun I. found 
two incubated eggs. 
Grus leucogeranus, Pail. 
864.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 663; Murray’s Verte- 
brate Zoology of Sind, p. 236; Game Birds of India, Vol. III, 
pi 
THe Snow WREATH or SIBERIAN CRANE. 
Length, 48 to 56 ; expanse, 83 to 99°5 ; wing, 22°5 to 26; tail, 
775 to 9-5; tarsus, 10°5 to 12; bill from gape, 6°75 to 8; weight, 
123 to 19 lbs. 
Bill umber-brown ; membrane of nasal groove, skin of forehead, 
lores and cheeks, red, duller colored in less mature birds; irides 
bright but very pale-yellow ; legs and feet dull pale reddish-pink. 
Plumage wholly white ; quills black ; tertiaries lengthened. 
The Snow Wreath is a very rare cold weather visitant to the 
northern portion of Sind. 
Grus communis, Bechst. 
865.—G. cinerea Bechts.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 664; 
Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 15 ; Deccan, Stray 
Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 427; Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of 
Sind, p. 237; Game Birds of India, Vol. ITT, p. 21. 
