THE CRANES 2235 



-virgo], which breeds in North Africa, Spain, Southern Russia, and a large area of 

 Central and Eastern Asia, while in winter it visits Central Africa and India, is dis- 

 tinguished from all the foregoing by its shorter beak, longer legs, and shorter neck, 

 as well as by its inferior size, and the long lanceolate feathers of the neck and 

 breast. In length this bird is only about thirty inches, and in color the head, 

 neck, and long breast plumes are black, a tuft of loose white feathers extends out- 

 ward and backward from the eye, while the general hue is purplish gray, with the 

 quills black. In India, where it arrives late in October, this crane associates in 

 flocks comprising from fifty to one hundred individuals, and frequents rivers rather 

 than marshes. Being mainly a vegetable feeder, it is very destructive to grain. 

 The eggs are olive green speckled with rufous; and, while the female is sitting, the 

 male keeps constant guard. Although somewhat apt to wound its assailant with 

 its sharp inner claw, this crane affords good sport with a falcon. Allied to this 

 species is the much larger Stanley crane (G. paradisea) often referred to the 

 distinct genus Tetrapteryx of South Africa; in which the whole plumage is leaden 

 blue, with the exception of the white crown of the head and the black extremities 

 of the drooping secondaries. This species, although widely distributed, is nowhere 

 abundant, and is always found in pairs. It inhabits the Karroo country, at a great 

 distance from water, and is mainly carnivorous. In confinement it becomes ex- 

 tremely tame, although in the wild state it is very shy. 



The two species of African crowned cranes take their name from 

 the narrow fan-shaped crest of twisted bristle-like feathers radiating 

 from an elongated centre on the top of the head, by which they can 

 be immediately recognized. They are further characterized by the stout body, 

 moderately-long neck, large head, and the moderate length of the beak, which is 

 regularly conical, as well as by the broad wing, in which the fourth quill is the 

 longest, and by the long legs and powerful claws. The cheeks are naked, and the 

 feathers of the lower part of the neck hackle shaped. Of the two species, the Bal- 

 earic crane {Balearica pavonina) is mainly a North- and West- African form, while 

 the Cape crowned crane (B. chrysopelargus} is from the southern districts. In it 

 the general color of the plumage is leaden gray ; the crown shows rings of white and 

 yellow, with black tips to its component bristles; the bare parts of the face are red; 

 the top of the head and chin are black, as is the tail; while the outer feathers of the 

 wings are white and inner red, both being overhung by some loose yellow plumes. 

 In the Balearic crane, while the front part of the naked area on the side of the face 

 is red, the hinder portion is glistening white. The habits of both appear to be very 

 similar to those of several of the true cranes; these birds associating either in pairs 

 or small companies, and frequenting the neighborhood of water. On the west 

 coast the Balearic crane is domesticated by the natives. 



