GRUS.] AVES GRALLATORES. 185 



(16.) Psophia crepitans, Linn. (Gold-breasted Trumpeter.) Lath. 

 Syn. vol. ii. p. 793. pi. 68. 



An individual of this species is recorded by Montagu, in the Supplement 

 to his Ornithological Dictionary, as having been taken in Surrey ; it had, 

 however, probably escaped from confinement, being a native of South 

 America. 



GEN. 68. GRUS, Pall. 



171. G. cinerea, Bechst. (Common Crane.) Cine- 

 reous ; occiput, throat, and fore part of the neck, dusky 

 gray. 



G. cinerea, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 557. Common Crane, 

 Selb. Illust. vol. ii. p. 4. pi. 1. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 3. 

 Crane, Mont. Orn. Diet. (Trachea,) Linn. Trans, vol. iv. pi. 12. 

 f.4. 



DIMENS. Entire length five feet: length of the bill above four inches. 

 MONT. 



DESCRIPT. Forehead, and space between the bill and the eyes, covered 

 with black bristly hairs ; crown of the head naked, the skin of an orange- 

 red colour : occiput, throat, and fore part of the neck, of a deep blackish 

 gray ; all the upper and under parts of the body dark ash-colour : quills, 

 and greater coverts, black ; secondaries and tertials elongated, and of an 

 arched form, with the barbs of the feathers disunited, forming an elegant 

 tuft of floating plumes capable of being erected or depressed at will : bill 

 greenish black, the tip horn-colour : feet black. " Young birds, pre- 

 viously to the second autumnal moult, are without the naked patch on 

 the crown of the head, or have it very small ; the deep blackish tint on 

 the occiput and fore part of the neck is simply indicated by a few 

 longitudinal spots of that colour. In old individuals, a large whitish 

 space is found behind the eyes, and on each side of the upper part 

 of the neck." TEMM. (Egg.) Pale greenish olive ground, blotched and 

 spotted with darker green and olive-brown: long. diam. four inches; 

 trans, diam. two inches six lines. 



According to Ray, this species was formerly met with in Cambridge- 

 shire, in large flocks, during the winter months. In still earlier times 

 it is stated by Turner to have bred in some of our fens. It must now be 

 considered as an extremely rare and accidental visitant. Pennant makes 

 mention of a single specimen which was killed in his time near Cam- 

 bridge. One or two others are said to have occurred in Kent; and so 

 recently as in the year 1828, an individual is recorded to have been killed 

 in Cornwall. This last is now in the collection of Mr Drew, Devonport. 

 (Loud. Mag. vol. in. p. 177.) Is a common inhabitant of marshy plains 

 in the eastern parts of Europe. Feeds on grain, aquatic plants, worms, 

 and small reptiles. Said to build amongst rushes and other thick her- 

 bage, sometimes on the roofs of solitary houses. Lays two eggs. 



