Cranes in Captivity.



57



“ native companion ” of the colonists. This bird is of a different

shade of colour to the preceding' species, being rather a bluish, or

French grey, as the tint of its plumage, the top of the head and the

beak are of an olive-green colour, as is also the gular pouch ; the back

of the head is papillose skin of a brilliant scarlet. This Crane is not so

reliable in its temper as the gentle Demoiselle and most individuals

are inveterate practical jokers, as evidenced by the sly manner with

which they will sidle up alongside any one who may be inside their

enclosure, looking the pictures of innocence, and then give a nasty

lunge with their spear-like beak at the person of the intruder,

usually selecting, if it be a man, the back of the calf of the leg ; or,

if a lady, the back or palm of the hand. Like the majority of the

Cranes this species is very hardy and may safely be left out of doors

during all weathers, saving the most exceptionally severe, when it is

advisable to put them under shelter. They are so disregarding o

the state of the climate that they will wade in a half-frozen pond

during a frost and wait until they are literally frozen in and have

to be released. In spite of my fears that they would suffer from

the prolonged exposure to the ice-cold water, the experience seemed

to have no ill-effects upon them and they were none the worse for

it. Although I have not as yet had the good fortune in my own

aviaries, these particular Cranes have nested in this country, but I

am not certain whether the eggs hatched and the young reared to

maturity; I think that both the Duchess of Bedford and Mr. H. D.

Astley were equally unfortunate in this respect. If the male bird is

pinioned there is no need to perform the same operation on the hen,

for she does not appear to want to fly away, although fond of long

aerial flights from which she will always return ; at least such is my

experience.


The Australian Crane is a very jealous bird, quick to take

offence, and deeply resents the intrusion of another crane of a

different kind to himself on that portion of the enclosure round

which he has set an imaginary boundary, but will, directly a tres¬

passer is noticed, run at him with outstretched wings and clappering

beak and fairly chase him off the private territory that has been

appropriated by himself and his mate ; in fact, the solitary example

of the Common Crane is constantly being chased about by both the



