THE CROWNED CRANE. 239 



neighbouring countries ; it is also found at Cape Verd. 

 Aldrovandus supposed this bird to have been indicated 

 by Pliny, but it is doubtful whether the ancients were 

 acquainted with the species. It is more reasonable to 

 conclude that it first became known in Europe towards 

 the end of the fifteenth century, when the Portuguese 

 extended their discoveries along the western coast of 

 Africa. Since that time it seems to have been not 

 unfrequently brought to this quarter of the globe. The 

 description given by Aldrovandus was taken from living 

 specimens in the possession of Cardinal Sforza, and Ray 

 mentions having seen the bird in the royal aviary in 

 St. James's Park. The French Academicians were, 

 however, the first to examine its structure with minute- 

 ness, and their account of it is still the best that has 

 been given. They applied to it the name of Oiseau 

 Royal, from the supposed resemblance of its crest to a 

 regal crown. Brisson, adopting the opinion that it was 

 the Balearic Crane of the ancients, named it Balearica ; 

 and this must consequently, notwithstanding some awk- 

 wardness in the construction, be adopted as its generic 

 appellation. It has since been well figured by Edwards, 

 BufFon, and others ; and forms at the present day an 

 attractive object in most of our menageries. 



In a wild state it is natural to conclude that the 

 Crowned Crane is a migratory species ; but we know 

 little of its habits except in captivity. Like the other 

 Cranes it frequents swampy places, and subsists partly 

 upon fishes, worms, and insects, and partly on vegetable 

 substances. At Cape Verd, we are told, it approaches 

 so nearly to a state of domestication as to come of its 

 own accord into the poultry yards and feed along with 

 the tame birds confined in them. It perches in the 

 open air to take its rest, and walks with a slow and 

 somewhat stately gait; but, with its wings expanded 



