126 Practical Bird-Kkeping. 



place; on the other hand, the male stands likewise, but at each 

 note he throws up both wings from behind, leaving his back and 

 tail quite exposed : this goes on for a minute or two with auto- 

 matic regularity. The fighting attitude of the Asiatic Crane is 

 most amusing : he stands quite still, witli his great bill hidden 

 in his tail and end of wing-feathers, and when about to be 

 attacked by anything, and the foolish being comes within 

 striking distance, out comes the bill like a flash of lightning, 

 and is used with terrible effect. This action puts one in mind of a 

 man drawing his sword from its sheath in haste to defend himself. 



The males of the Demoiselle and Crowned Cranes are not 

 so easy to determine, one has to be guided by the action of the 

 birds : they usually are slightly larger, and with well-defined 

 lines of plumage and also the voice of the male is much deeper 

 in tone and more prolonged. 



During the migration period, in spring and autumn, all 

 Cranes, without exception, get very excited in the hope of getting 

 away, making determined attempts to get on the wing, in spite of 

 being pinioned, especially if a strong wind is on. You will see 

 them go down wind to the extreme end of the enclosure, then 

 start to run and fly their hardest up wind, and very often clear 

 the fence and land in another enclosure, when they are promptly 

 attacked by the rightful owners. At these times the call is much 

 more shrill, the Sarus can be heard several miles away down wind. 



