COURLANS. 467 



distributed, is nowhere abundant, and is always found in pairs. It inhabits the 

 Karru country, at a great distance from water, and is mainly carnivorous. In 

 confinement it becomes extremely tame, although in the wild state it is very shy. 

 The two species of African crowned cranes take their name from 

 ' the narrow fan-shaped crest of twisted bristle-like feathers radiating 

 from an elongated centre on the top of the head, by which they can be immedi- 

 ately recognised. They are further characterised by the stout body, moderately 

 long neck, large head, and the moderate length of the beak, which is regularly 

 conical ; as well as by the broad wing, in which the fourth quill is the longest, and by 

 the long legs and powerful claws. The cheeks are naked, and the feathers of the 

 lower part of the neck hackle-shaped. Of the two species, the Balearic crane 

 (Balearica pavonina) is mainly a North and West African form, while the Cape 

 crowned crane (B. ckrysopelargus) is from the southern districts. In it the general 

 colour of the plumage is leaden-grey ; the crown shows rings of white and yellow, 

 with black tips to its component bristles ; the bare parts of the face are red ; the 

 top of the head and chin are black, as is the tail ; while the outer feathers of the 

 wings are white and inner red, both being overhung by some loose yellow plumes. 

 In the Balearic crane, while the front part of the naked area on the side of the 

 face is red, the hinder portion is glistening white. The habits of both appear to 

 be very similar to those of several of the true cranes; these birds associating 

 either in pairs or small companies, and frequenting the neighbourhood of water. 

 On the west coast the Balearic crane is domesticated by the natives. 



THE COURLANS. 

 Family AKAMID^. 



Agreeing in its osteology and feathering very closely with the cranes, the 

 Brazilian courlan or limpkin (Aramus scolopaceus) of tropical South America, is 

 generally regarded as indicating a distinct family, although by some writers it is 

 placed with the rails, from which it is at once distinguished by the slit-like nasal 

 apertures of the skull. This bird, which measures 25 inches in length, is not 

 unlike a large rail in general appearance; having a somewhat slender, straight 

 beak, which is double the length of the head, and characterised by its extreme 

 lateral compression. At the base of this beak the slit-like nostrils are situated in 

 a groove extending along half its length. The legs and feet are long and slender ; 

 the lower half of the tibia being bare, and the compressed metatarsus covered with 

 large scutes. The wings are broad and rounded. In colour, the Brazilian courlan 

 is chocolate-brown, with purple and bronze reflections on the upper-parts, and 

 some longitudinal white flecks on the head and sides of the neck. In the West 

 Indies, Florida, and Central America its place is taken by the Florida courlan 

 (A. pictus), distinguished by the white markings extending over the back, wing- 

 coverts, and lower-parts. Courlan frequent swampy districts, and are remarkably 

 rail-like in their habits, flying with the same slow, flapping flight, and, when 

 flushed, soon dropping again. Among reeds, where they make regular paths, their 

 movements are extremely rapid. 



