( 89 ) 



THE 



CROWNED AFRICAN CRANE 



IS pretty nearly the Oiape and fize of the ordinary crane, with long 

 legs and neck, but the bill fhorter ; colour of the plumage dark 

 greenilh grey ; the bill, feet, and legs black. The head and throat form 

 the nioft ftriking part of this bird's fisure. On the head Hands up a 

 compaft round creft of filken bridles, flat, and fpiraled, fpreading every 

 way like diverging rays, the longeit ray about three inches and a 

 half; on each grow, (landing up, very fnn all hairy feathers, black, point- 

 ed, and topped with a kind of black taflels, which give them a beauti- 

 tul appearance. A large wattle of a membranous ikin, white on the 

 temples, bright fcarlet on the cheeks, furrounds his face, and defcends 

 under his bill ; on his head a tine down ; the eyes large and dar- 

 ing j the iris white, the pupil black and big, furrounded with a gold- 

 coloured iris that completes the bird's very fingular appearance. Beauti- 

 ful feathers of a deep leaden black colour hang down his neck, and 

 Ipread on the flioulders and back; the firft feathers of the wing are 

 black, the others reddilh brown ; its voice refembles the crane. 



When running, ftretches out its wings, and goes very fwiftly, but its 

 iiiual motion is flow: when domefticated, walks very deliberately aaiong 

 poultry, and is gentle and peaceful. At Cape Verd is half-domefticated, 

 and comes freely to eat grain among the poultry ; is even difpleafed 

 when folitary too long ; loves to be vifited and fpoken to. They fel- 

 dom rood in houfes ; but, when difpofed to go to reft, perch on fome 

 liighwallin the manner of a peacock, which bird they fo m.uch refemble 

 in fome of its manners and difpofition, that feveral authors have called 

 them the fea-peacock. Has been fuppofed, erroneoufly, to be the Balea- 

 llric crane of Pliny : neither correfponds to his hint, nor is found in the 

 Balearic Iflands, but inhabits the Gold Coaft:, Cape Verd, &c. Its 

 Habits and food refemble the crane kind ; loves to batiie itfcU ; loves 

 fifli, infeds, &c. 



/^ Part IV. No, 26. CL THE 



