Birds. 9771 



immature the tendons of the wings and legs were exceedingly strong, 

 and in some situations even partly ossified. The stomach, which was 

 large and very muscular, was filled with large black slugs and pieces 

 of stone (principally quartz), some of them of considerable size, 

 measuring about half an inch square. Most of the feathers composing 

 the under wing-coverts presented a very peculiar appearance, large 

 patches upon them being covered with what I take to be the ova of 

 some kind of parasite, but not being certain upon that poiuti enclose 

 some of the feathers for your opinion. The nature of the food probably 

 accounts for the bird's preference for the north, or shady side of the 

 hills. 



Unlike the herons, the crane has a small neck, consequently it 

 is necessary to slit the skin in order to clean the skull. 



I append a description of the specimen, not being able to find a 

 similar one elsewhere. 



Length, from middle claw to tip of bill . . . 4 feet 8 inches. 



Length, from tail to tip of bill 3 „ 8 



Expanse of wings 6 7 



Wing, from carpal joint to tip 1 „ 9 



Bill, from front to tip 



Bill to gape 4j 



Tarsus 9 



Middle toe and its claw 3^ 



'8 



Sex male. 



Bill horn-colour, tinged with green, slightly darker along the ridge 

 and palest at the tip. (After drying the whole of the bill becomes dark 

 reddish brown.) 



Iris rich golden yellow, gradually becoming darker towards the 

 pupil. 



Head and Neck. — Crown and fore part of the head dull crimson, 

 with scanty bristle-like feathers of very dark bluish gray; the feathers 

 upon the lore similar in appearance but closely set ; from the eye to 

 the occiput an elongated patch of dirty white, the feathers of the 

 occiput itself somewhat lengthened and pointed, dusky bluish gray, 

 with their concealed portion dirty white ; chin, throat, and upper two- 

 thirds of front of neck dull lead-gray, the shafts of most of the feathers 

 slightly darker ; back of neck rather paler than the front, and very 

 obscurely mottled with light brown ; upon the sides of the neck the 

 colours are still paler ; lower third of front of neck pale grayish brown, 

 the shaft lines of feathers considerably darker. 



