300 



V RirPKBIlATA, 



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THE NUMIDIAN CRANE. 



course of tlioir pas^sago. Snbjoct to less excitement, they pass along silently and at a great elevation 

 in fine weather, but lower their flight, and become clamorous at the approach, or during the 

 existence, of a storm. Milton, describing these migrations, says : 



" Part loosely wing the region, part, more wise. 

 In common, ranged in ligure >- wedge their way. 

 Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 

 Their aery caravan, high over seas 



Plying, and over lands with mutual wing, 

 Easing their flight ; so steers the prudent Crane 

 Her annual voyage, borne on winds the air 

 Flotes, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes.' 



Genus GRUS : Grus. — The Common Crane of Europe, G. cinerea, is four feet long ; bluish- 

 ash above ; beneath ash-gray. It migrates to the north of Europe and Siberia in spring, remains 

 there and breeds in summer, and in the autumn returns to Africa and Southern Asia lor the winter. 

 It feeds on worms, insects, reptiles, mollusca, and sometimes on grain. Its nest is usually made 

 among reeds and tall herbage, in the marshes which it frequents; it, however, occasionally builds: 

 on ruined edifices. In its migrations it flies, like wild geese and swans, in the form of a wedge, 

 frequently uttering a loud cry. 



The American Crane, G. Americana, is four feet six inches long ; crested ; color bluish-ash ; 

 feeds on crabs, shell-fish, eels, and various kinds of fruit. It is stationary from the Carolinas 

 soutbwanl ; in summer it migrates as far north as New Jersey. It is often called ^Vlioo^nnff Crane 

 on account of its wild, sonorous cry, which has been compared to the whoop of savages when rush- 

 ing to battle. Nuttall says: "In February, and in the early part of the following month, I heard 

 their clamorous cries nearly every morning around the enswamped ponds of West Florida, and 

 throughout Georgia, so that many individuals probably pass either the winter or the whole year, 

 in the southern extremity of the Union. It is impossible to describe the clamor of one of these 

 roosting flocks, wdiich they begin usually to utter about sunrise. Like the howling monkeys of 

 South America, a single individual seemed at first as if haranjTuinof, or callinaf out to the assembled 

 company, and after uttering a round number of discordant, sonorous, and braying tones, the address 

 seemed as if received with becoming applause, and was seconded with trumpeting hurrahs." 



The Saxd-IIill Crane, G. Canadensis, is forty-eight inches long ; color yellowish-gray ; found 

 from Mexico to the Arctic Sea. It is called the Brown Crane and also the Canada Crane. 

 Cassin mentions a species in New Mexico, G.fraterculus. 



Genus ANTHROPOIDES : Anthropoidcs. — This includes the Numidian Crane, A. virgo — 

 called Demoiselle by the French — three feet long ; general color slaty-gray ; migratory ; food, 

 grain, seeds, small fishes, mollusca, and insects. Africa appears to be its Lome, but it is found in 

 parts of Asia, and is occasionally seen in Southern Europe. 



