CRANES 127 



CRANES. 



The members of the Family Gruidce are true orna- 

 ments of the veld, being stately birds, represented in the 

 sub-continent by three conspicuous species. 



The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) is slate- 

 black on the back, with the wing and tail-feathers black ; 

 top of head dark slate ; cheeks and neck white ; entire 

 under-surface black. The face is covered with warts 

 from the base of the beak to the eyes, while below the 

 throat there are two pendent lappets, bare in front but 

 feathered on the hinder surface. 



It is not a common bird anywhere, and is generally 

 seen in pairs or small parties on the open veld near 

 marshy localities, or in the neighbourhood of dams or 

 vleis. 



It feeds on frogs and insects, varied by an occasional 

 meal of grain. 



The eggs are pale olive-brown, lightly marked with 

 darker. 



The Blue or Stanley Crane (Antliropoides paradised) is 

 a much commoner and better-known species. It is of a 

 pale blue-grey colour throughout, excepting the crown of 

 the head, which is white, and the apical portion of the 

 secondaries, which are black. 



It is confined to South Africa ; we found it particu- 

 larly plentiful on the " flats " of the Orange River 

 Colony, in the Brandfort and Winburg districts, and in 

 the Central Transvaal at certain seasons. 



It feeds on a variety of substances, including locusts 

 and other insects, small reptiles, and the like. 



It congregates into flocks during the winter months, 

 separating into pairs in the breeding season. 



It lays two large pale brown eggs (with sometimes 



