93 GRALLATORES. 



The COMMON CRANE, G. cinereus, (ashy,) of the Eastern 

 Continent, is three feet eight or ten inches in length ; in its gen- 

 eral plumage ashy-gray ; migratory and gregarious in its habits ; 

 in its contour and gait somewhat like the Ostrich ; in its strong 

 and muscular stomach, it differs from the Herons. The flesh is 

 well tasted, and was formerly highly prized. 



The DEMOISELLE, Anthropoides, (Gr. of human-like form ;) 

 virgo, (Lat. a virgin,) or Ardea Virgo, of Linn, is an African 

 bird, but occasionally seen in Europe; its general plumage is 

 slaty-gray ; length about three feet. One of these birds hatched 

 in the menagerie at Versailles, (France,) and lived there twenty- 

 four years. Great numbers are seen in Egypt during the inun 

 dations of the Nile. This bird exhibits much delicacy and ele 

 gance of attitude, and a graceful playfulness in all its move 

 ments. Its food consists, principally of grain and seeds, though 

 it occasionally eats small fishes, mollusks, and insects. 



The STANLEY CRANE, A. StanJeyanus, (A. paradisceus,) is a 

 beautiful East India species, named after Lord Stanley, late 

 President of the Zool. Soc., Lond. ; it is three feet and a half in 

 length, and in manners and gestures, like the Demoiselle ; its 

 general plumage is bluish gray. 



The CROWNED CRANE, A. pavonicus, (Lat. of a peacock,) is 

 supposed to be the Balearic Crane, (Balearica,) of the ancients. 

 Its plumage is of a bluish slate color; when full grown it is 

 about four feet in length. Under the throat is a wattle like that 

 of a turkey. This stately bird is found in Northern and West 

 ern Africa. (Plate X. fig. 8a.) 



HERONS PROPER. 



Of these there are quite a number of species. The use of 

 these birds in hawking, has already been noticed. The destruc 

 tion of their eggs was in Europe formerly visited by a heavy 

 penalty ; they seem to have ranked as high at the tables of the 

 great as they did for their exploits in the field ; now, however, 

 their flesh is in low estimation. 



Audubon includes the EGRETS and BITTERNS with the Herons, 

 under one genus, Ardea, and enumerates twelve species found 

 in America. 



The COMMON HERON, A. cinerea, is remarkably light in pro 

 portion to its bulk, weighing scarcely three pounds and a half, 

 though its length is upwards of three feet, and its expanse of 

 wings above five. This Heron is found in Europe, Asia, Africa, 

 and America. 



