Grus leiicogeranus. 39 



respecting this superb crane until Mr. A. 0. Hume, of the Bengal Civil 

 Service, published his elaborate and very excellent description of it in the 

 Ibis for 1868 (pp. 28 — 40) ; and we first learn from that observer that it 

 differs remarkably from all the other species of restricted Grus (as dis- 

 tinguished from Balearica) in its trachea not being prolonged to enter 

 a cavity in the keel of the breast-bone. In that of a fine male, he 

 remarks, " instead of a convolution entering and running far back into 

 the sternum, there is merely a somewhat dilated bend just where the 

 windpipe enters the cavity of the body ; and it is only after the pipe 

 has divided, which it does symmetrically into two very nearly equal tubes, 

 about 3in. before entering the lungs, that the rings are at all strongly 

 marked, or that the tube impresses one as being at all powerful." * * * 

 " When not alarmed, the White Crane's note is what, for so large a bird, 

 may be called a mere chirrup ; and even when most alarmed, and circling and 

 soaring widely round and round, looking down upon the capture of a wounded 

 offspring or partner, their cry (a mere repetition of the syllables karekhur) 

 is very feeble as compared with that of any other of the cranes (including 

 even Balearica pavo^iina) whose notes I have myself ever heard." 

 In the This for 1869, p. 237, Mr. W. E. Brooks remarks that : 



With regard to the notes of Grus leucogeranus, how the natives can imagine that 

 their name Itarekhur, or as I shall call it, care-cur, expresses any one of them, I 

 cannot conceive. The notes are all simple whistles, from a mellow one to a peculiar 

 feeble shrill shivering whistle, if I may so express it. No written word will express the 

 note of this species, nor give the faintest idea of it. I watched a flock of these fine 

 birds for some time yesterday, as they fed in a marsh in company with about a dozen of 

 0. aiiiigone and three of G. comvirmis. I found it impossible to get within shot of the 

 white cranes, nor could I get them driven over to me as I sat in ambush, for as soon as 

 they take wing they immediately begin to soar, and circle round and round till they 

 attain a height far above the reach of any shot; they then fly straight away, 

 uttering their peculiar whistle, which, though weak as compared with the call of other 

 cranes, can still be heard a mile off or even more. It is a magnificent bird, and, I 

 think, the most graceful of the group in its attitudes. The species is abundant, being 

 found in large flocks (near Etawah), and the eggs might be obtained from Russian 

 sources. The plumage is so very compact and swan-like, that it must go very far north 

 to breed, where perhaps its snowy plumage harmonises with the still unmelted snow as 

 it sits upon its nest. 



Mr. Hume remarks that the aliment of the species would appear to 

 differ from that of all other cranes in being exclusively vegetable. Pallas, 

 however, states that it feeds upon small fish, frogs, and lizards, which there 

 can be little doubt that it does to some extent at least. 



This much premised, the Asiatic White Crane would appear to stand 

 from 4ft. to 4ift. high at the crown when standing erect, the males being 

 larger than the females, and the extremes varying considerably. Mr. Hume 

 gives the " whole length of the males as ranging from 62in. to 56in., and of 

 the females as 48in. to 53in. Expanse of wings in the male sex 90in. to 



