30 Monograph of the Cranes. 



bill with fatal effect. Jerdon further remarks that " the harl-arra makes a 

 fine flight with the bhyri, occasioually two or three miles." 



Sir Walter Elliot in a note (cited by Jerdon), remarks that this species 

 Flies in vast flocks, from 50 to 100 and even 500, with great regularity of arrange- 

 ment, in a long line, a few of the leading ones disposing themselves in another line at an 

 angle, varying from a right to an acute one, with it. This is when they are in pro- 

 gress ; at other times, as when disturbed during the heat of the day, they may be 

 seen circling round at a great height, but still a regular order of lines may be dis- 

 tinguished. Their favourite food is chenna [Cicer arieiinum). They never go to 

 tanks to drink, but always to rivers. 



[The frontispiece to this monograph representing a Flock of Demoiselle 

 Cranes, on a sandbank near Aboo Girgeh, Middle Egypt, was sketched on 

 March 24th, 1874, by Prof. W. H. Flower, who informs me that : 



Though all the birds seen during the three months spent on the Nile, January, 

 February, and March, 1874, were carefully noted, not a single Demoiselle Crane was 

 observed except on this day, when they were literally in thousands. The common 

 crane (Grus communis) was often seen, but always in small numbers at a time. 



The small figui'e at the commencement of this section is copied from 

 that of Harvey in The Gard. and Menag. Zool. Sac, Vol. ii. p. 231. 1835.] 

 Prof. Nordmann in Demidoff's " Voyage dans la Eussie Merideonale " has 

 given a highly interesting account of the ihabits of these cranes when 

 they are assembled on the Eussian Steppes after their flights. They 

 arrange themselves in a circle or in many rows, when they will bow and 

 dance to each other in a most grotesque manner. According to Nord- 

 mann (as translated by Dr. Bree) 



They arrive in the South of Eussia about the beginning of March, in flocks of between 

 two and three hundred individuals. Arrived at the end of their journey, the flock 

 keeps together for some time ; and even when they have dispersed in couples, they 

 reassemble every morning and evening, preferring in calm weather to exercise them- 

 selves together, and amuse themselves by dancing. For this purpose they choose a 

 convenient place, generally the flat shore of a stream. There they place themselves 

 in a line, or in many rows, and begin their games and extraordinary dances, which 

 are not a little surprising to the spectator, and of which the account would be con- 

 sidered fabulous were it not attested by men worthy of belief. They dance and jump 

 around each other, bowing in a burlesque manner, advancing their necks, raising the 

 feathers of the neck-tufts, and half unfolding the wings. In the meantime another 

 set are disputing in a race the prize for swiftness. Arrived at the winning-post 

 they turn back, and walk slowly, and with gravity ; all the rest of the company saluting 

 them with reiterated cries, inclinations of the head, and other demonstrations, which are 

 reciprocated. After having done this for some time, they all rise in the air, where, 

 slowly sailing, they describe circles, like the swan and other cranes. After some 

 weeks these assemblies cease, and from that time they are constantly seen walking in 

 loving pairs together. 



[The following graphic account of the habits of the Demoiselle Crane 

 during the breeding season was given by Dr. A. S. Cullen in his "Notes on 

 the Nesting of Birds in Bulgaria" {Field, September, 1869) : 



This bird arrives in the Dobrudsha in about the second week of April. It makes its 



