Cranes. 123 



XX. 



CRANES, 



By R, CoSGKAVE. 



The various accounts written of Cranes do not give much 

 practical advice to the amateur who seeks help with regard to the 

 management of these most satisfactory aviary birds. 



In the first place, mj' advice is not to purchase a cripple 

 at any price. See that the birds are sound and healthy, do not 

 trouble if the plumage is rough, that comes all right at the first 

 moult. Most dealers tell us that all Cranes must have fish ; that 

 is by no means necessary, as I have tried to show from time 

 to time. When you get a fresh acquisition, by all means give 

 it a little fish, but decrease the quantity daily for a week or two, 

 finally dropping it altogether. Only in one case is it essential 

 to give a little fish occasionally, namely, to the Asiatic or White 

 Crane {Grits leucogeramcs), for it is the most aquatic of all the 

 family and an expert fisherman. Feed on good wheat, barley, 

 small round maize, barley meal (English), and, if ;j^ s. d. permits, 

 give bread cut up in small pieces, which can be swallowed easily ; 

 do not give cheap corn, it is penny wise and pound foolish to do 

 so. The natural times of feeding are in the early mornings and 

 evenings, hence this is the best rule to follow with birds in 

 confinement. 



All Cranes, without exception, require a good grass run, 

 the larger the better, and, where possible, they should be located 

 near a lake, pond or stream so that the birds can wade or wash 

 at pleasure ; to enjoy a wash or bath they like a good depth of 

 clear water, from one to three feet, according to the size of the 

 bird ; the Sarus and Manchurians like it still deeper. A natural 



