28 Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology . 



II. — Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. 

 By Allan Hume, C.B. 



No. I. Grus leucogeranus, Pallas. 

 Of the four beautiful species of Cranes which permanently, or 

 as seasonal visitants, adorn our Indian plains, the rarest and 

 perhaps the finest is the Grus leucogeranus, the Great White 

 or Siberian Crane. 



Those who are acquainted with this graceful and exquisitely 

 shaped bird only through the medium of Mr. Gould's figure, or 

 the copy of that figure which Dr. Bree has given, can form no 

 just idea of it. 



Large and white, with a good deal of red about the face, 

 they doubtless know it to be ; but if they attempt to realize it 

 further, it must be as an awkward gawky creature to wliom 

 neither its legs nor head seem properly to pertain. In reality, 

 however, it is the most elegant of birds; and, stand in what 

 position it may, the whole outline of its head, neck, and body 

 presents a series of the most graceful and harmonious curves. 

 The Common Crane of Europe {Grus cinerea) with its magni- 

 ficent pendent train, the delicate Demoiselle [Anthropoides 

 Virgo) with jet-black waving neck-plumes and silvery ear-tufts, 

 the stately Sarus {G. antigone) with its exquisite lavender hue, 

 and brilUant crimson head surmounting its white neck-band — 

 all seem to me to yield the palm to the grace and dazzling 

 whiteness of G. leucogeranus. 



Few birds are more wary, few have been seldomer procured. 

 Accurate and detailed measurements (such as will be found at 

 the end of this paper), made from numerous fresh specimens, 

 have never yet, I believe, been published; nor, as far as I 

 know, has any correct account been ever given of its habits, 

 food, voice, or changes of plumage. 



Sixteen years have now elapsed since I first shot one in 

 Ladakh (in the Himalayahs). This was in October; and the 

 birds were doubtless then on their way to the plains of India. 

 They arrived at a lake near Ley, close to which I was encamped, 

 towards nightfall ; and though, after I had fired at them and 

 secured a specimen, they again settled at some distance, they 



