348 Rev. Hubert D. Astley,


feathers black, the inner secondaries being curved and arched as

in the Common Crane.


Crown of head covered with rough red skin. Bill, greenish

horn. Legs, black.


Very rarely, if ever captured.

■» ■» ■&


3. The Mantchurian Crane (Grus japonemis).


Perhaps the most splendid of the family, and one of the

most magnificent of birds ; well known as depicted upon Japanese

screens.


Colour, snowy white. Throat and cheeks, deep black-grey,

the same running downwards on each side of the neck, and

meeting near the base, behind.


Secondaries, black, the feathers being broadened and

curved. Bill, greenish horn ; legs, greyish black.


The Mantchurian Crane has often nested in captivity. The

call is extremely sonorous and resounding.


Habitat: Eastern Siberia and Mautchuria; wintering iu

Corea and China. * • # .#


4. The Hooded Crane (Grits monachus).


After the style of the Common Crane. General colour,

dark slately-grey with a brownish tinge, deepening into slately-

black on the curved wing feathers and the tail. Face and greater

part of neck, pure white. Forehead : red skin with black hairs.

Hab. : Eastern Siberia, wintering in China and Corea. Extreme-

ly rare in confinement in Europe. Lord Ljlford possessed one

specimen. % # %


5. The American Crane (Grus americana).


Called also the Whooping Crane. Alas ! all but extinct,

(according to Herr. Carl Hageubeck). A most beautiful bird.

Snowy white with black primaries, and the skin on the crown of

the head of a brilliant maroon-cherry red.


A pair still exists in the Zoological Gardens at Amsterdam,

but there are probably not many more in the world. It inhabited

Central North America, wintering in Florida and Central Mexico.


Its general style and size is that of the Mantchurian Crane.



