338 



AND BIRDS. 



found all over Europe. Four British species are described B. stel- 

 laris, B. lentiginosus, B. miniitus, and B. comatus. 



The Crane (Grits), which forms a genus among the Cultrirostres, 

 is characterised by a bill much longer than the head, stout, straight, 

 tapering, compressed, and pointed, but always slightly cleft; feet 



long ; tibia bare for a fourth of 

 its length, covered with hexa- 

 gonal scales; toes, four; back- 

 toe short, which does not 

 reach the ground : wings 

 long and pointed. The 

 Cranes are essentially mi- 

 gratory birds, and possess 

 wonderful requisites ; for, in 

 addition to prolonged powers 

 of flight, they enjoy the valu- 

 able faculty of being able to 

 endure total abstinence from 

 food for several days a fa- 

 culty which, we may remark, 

 is common to most of the 

 Wader tribe, though in a less 

 degree. 



There are four species de- 

 scribed : the Common Crane, 

 the Demoiselle Crane, the 

 Crowned Crane, and the 

 Hooping Crane. 



The Common Crane (Grus 

 cinerea, Fig. 133) is a fine 



bird, attaining nearly five feet in height. With the exception of the 

 neck, which is black, all the rest of its body is of a uniform ashy- 

 grey colour. The carriage of the bird is noble and graceful, and the 

 feathers on its rump, which rise up in undulating clusters, add much 

 to its elegance. 



These Cranes are periodical visitors to France; they arrive in 

 Europe in the month of April or May, passing the fine weather in 

 more northern countries. Towards the middle of October, on the 

 arrival of the first cold weather, they leave in order to winter in 

 Egypt, Abyssinia, or even Southern Asia. They travel in flocks, 

 numbering sometimes as many as 300 or 400 birds ; generally they 

 arrange themselves in two lines, so as to form an isosceles triangle, 



Fig. 133. Common Crane, 



