GRUID^E. 345 



very conspicuous, owing to its decided black and 

 white colouring. The beak, which is long and 

 strong, is deep orange ; irides crimson ; the head, 

 neck, breast, back, scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, 

 greater coverts of primaries and tertials are glossy 

 black, except a small white spot under the eye ; the 

 lower part of the back, rump, tail-coverts, greater 

 coverts of secondaries, belly, flanks, under tail- and 

 wing-coverts are white ; the primary quills are black, 

 with a long spot of white on the outer web ; the 

 secondary quills are white at the base and black at 

 the tips, with a slight white edging ; the tail-feathers 

 are white at the base and black at the tips ; the legs 

 and toes purplish flesh-colour; claws black. The 

 winter plumage only differs in having a white gorget 

 on the side and front of the neck. The young birds 

 of the year have the feathers of the back and wings 

 margined with brown, and they do not obtain the 

 white gorget during the first winter. 



The egg is yellowish drab, spotted all over with 

 distinct black spots, something like tadpoles. 



Family GRUID^E. 



A second species of this family has lately been 

 added to the list of British birds, but as only one 

 capture has been recorded, and that not in these 

 parts, we have nothing to do with it; and, indeed, it 

 appears scarcely entitled to be called British at all. 



