THE CRANE KIND. 311 



where we most desire information. In the pre- 

 sent instance, in particular, no bird presents to 

 the eye a more whimsical figure than this, which 

 we must be content to call the Balearic Crane. 

 It is pretty nearly of the shape and size of the 

 ordinary crane, with long legs and a long neck, 

 like others of the kind ; but the bill is shorter, 

 and the colour of the feathers of a dark greenish- 

 grey. The head and throat form the most strik- 

 ing part of this bird's figure. On the head is 

 seen standing up a thick round crest, made of 

 bristles, spreading every way, and resembling 

 hiys standing out in different directions. The 

 longest of these rays are about three inches and 

 a half; and they are all topped with a kind of 

 black tassels, which give them a beautiful appear- 

 ance. The sides of the head and cheeks are 

 bare, whitish, and edged with red, while under- 

 neath the throat hangs a kind of bag or wattle, 

 like that of a cock, but not divided into two. To 

 give this odd composition a higher finishing, the 

 eye is large and staring ; the pupil black and big, 

 surrounded with a gold-coloured iris that com- 

 pletes the bird's very singular appearance. 



From such a peculiar figure, we might be led 

 to wish for a minute history of its manners ; but 

 of these we can give but slight information. This 

 bird comes from the coast of Africa and the Cape 

 de Verde Islands. As it runs, it stretches out its 

 wings, and goes very swiftly, otherwise its usual 

 motion is very slow. In their domestic state, 

 they walk very deliberately among other poultry, 

 and suffer themselves to be approached (at least 



