NATIOISTAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTER. 581 



bird ; white, with black primaries and primary coverts. TSTaturally a 

 wild and wary creature, it rapidly became scarce after its breeding 

 grounds were settled by man, and it is now virtually impossible to 

 obtain specimens. The park is fortunate in the possession of a fine 

 example. In summer this bird may be seen in the great flight cage, 

 but in winter he occupies quarters in the bird house. 



The sand-hill crane (Grus mexicana) is another American species, 

 still common in parts of Florida and in the Western States. Like the 

 white crane it is a shy bird and difficult to secure, and the rapid set- 

 tlement of its range has naturally greatly reduced its numbers. In 

 parts of the upper Mississippi Valley, where it formerly bred but 

 now occurs only in migration, it is a bird of the prairies and corn- 

 fields where its habits are much the same as those of the Canadii 

 goose. Small flocks flying low over the prairies, to and from the 

 feeding grounds, are easily mistaken for geese, but when the birds 

 are migrating, in great circles high in the air, there is no cause for 

 misidentification. At reasonable range, flying cranes are readily 

 distinguished from geese by the long legs, extending backward ; and 

 may be instantly known from the blue heron (often erroneously 

 called blue crane) by the long neck, which is held extended forward, 

 and never folded back as with the herons. 



A number of exotic cranes, some of striking appearance, are regu- 

 larly kept in the park. Of the genus Grus a number of Asiatic species 

 are shown, including the Avhite-necked crane {G. leucaMchen) so often 

 pictured in Japanese drawings; the Indian white crane {G. leuco- 

 geranus) ; and Lilford's crane {G. lilfordi)^ which represents the 

 common European crane in eastern Siberia. A fine Australian spe- 

 cies {G. Qnibicimda) is often called the " native companion." 



The Demoiselle crane {Anthropoides virgo) of southern Europe 

 and Asia and northern Africa is a pretty little species with white ear 

 tufts; and the crowned crane of Africa {Balearica pavonina) is a 

 still more handsome form supporting an erect occipital tuft which is 

 decidedly showy. 



THE CARIAMA. 



A group of South American birds, now known to be somewhat 

 distantly related to the cranes, includes the cariama and the chunga. 

 The cariama {Cariama crista.fa) might well be called the American 

 secretary bird, for he not a little resembles that famous bird of prey 

 of Africa in general appearance, and has some of its habits as well. 

 The cariama inhabits the high, open country of Brazil, Paraguay, 

 and northern Argentina. Its food is mainly animal, but it also eats 

 berries. It is protected by law in some districts as a destroyer of 

 snakes, and being easily tamed, is sometimes kept about poultry 

 yards. 



G5133°— SM 1017 38 



