28 DEMOISELLE CBANE. 



I do not know any certain place of capture. Mr. Salvin, ("Ibis/' 

 vol. i., p. 355,) saw small flocks in the eastern parts of the marsh of 

 Zana, and Canon Tristram also met with it in the north, ("Ibis," 

 vol. ii, p. 77.) Captain Loche records its occurrence in the south of 

 Algeria, while it is the commonest Crane in Cape Colony. Dr. Leith 

 Adams informs me that it has "several times been shot in Malta 

 during the cold weather. It is not rare in Turkey, plentiful in 

 Persia, and eastward inhabits the continent of Europe, where it is 

 well known by the name of Klung and Karkarra, the latter being 

 an imitation of its cry. This handsome Crane is much sought after 

 by sportsmen. The flesh is excellent eating; and it is also prized 

 on account of the fine black plumes on the neck." 



Colonel Irby ("Ibis," vol. iii, p. 243,) also notices its occurrence 

 in India, where he says it is found near the Rivers Choka and 

 Kurnalli, where flocks of several hundreds may be seen on the wing 

 at once, and recognised by their cry when even out of sight. 

 Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart also informs me that it is a common 

 cold weather visitor to the plains of India. "I once saw a flock of 

 twenty or upwards in marshes in the Himalayas near to Gungootrie, 

 the source of the Ganges. Migrates, I presume. It was in April." 

 According to M. Nordmann, these flocks fly in the order represented 

 in the accompanying diagram, and they every now and then change 

 their places like other Cranes. 



Nordmann has also given us a most interesting account of the 

 habits of these birds, when they are assembled on the Steppes in 

 large bodies after their flights. They arrange themselves in a circle 

 or in many rows, when they will bow and dance to each other in 

 a most grotesque manner. I will give Nordmann^s description in his 

 own words: — "They arrive in the south of Russia about the 

 beginning of March, in flocks of between two and three hundred 

 individuals. Arrived at the end of their journey, the flock keeps 

 together for some time, and even when they have dispersed in 

 couples, they re-assemble every morning and evening, preferring in 



