. DBM0I8BLLE GEANB. ^9 



calm -weather to exercise themselves together, and amuse themselves 

 by dancing. For this purpose they choose a convenient place, 

 generally the flat shore of a river. There they place themselves in 

 a line, or in many rows, and begin their games and extraordinary 

 dances, which are not a little surprising to the spectator, and of 

 which the account would be considered fabulous were it not attested 

 by men worthy of belief. They dance and jump around each other, 

 bowing in a burlesque manner, advancing their necks, raising the 

 feathers of the neck tufts, and half unfolding the wings. In the 

 mean time another set are disputing in a race the prize for 

 swiftness. Arrived at the winning-post they turn back, and walk 

 slowly, and with gravity; all the rest of the company saluting them 

 with reiterated cries, inclinations of the head, and other demonstra- 

 tions which are reciprocated. After having done this for some time, 

 they all rise in the air, where, slowly sailing, they describe circles, 

 like the Swan and other Cranes. After some weeks these assemblies 

 cease, and from that time they are constantly seen walking in loving 

 pairs together, male and female." 



In support of this statement Canon Tristram says, Q' Ibis," 'vol. ii, 

 p. 76,) "A small flock of this graceful and interesting bird^ might 

 generally be seen quitting one margin of a salt-pond ,r as we 

 approached the opposite edge. My acquaintance being so distant, I 

 can only add my testimony to the truth of their attachment to the 

 Terpsichorean art from the habits of four kept in the courtyard of 

 General Yussuf, at Blidah, which I have seen performing a stately 

 minuet or concert for an hour together." 



The Demoiselle Crane lives upon insects, lizards, and serpents. It 

 builds a nest of dry herbs and sticks, in which it lays two eggs, 

 which are very like those of the Common Crane in colour and shape. 

 I copy the following on the subject from Badeker's work on 

 European eggs : — " The Numidian Crane, whose true home is in 

 Asia and Africa, is also found in the south of Hussia, the Crimea, 

 and neighbourhood of the Black Sea and the Volga. It breeds in 

 broken places of the high steppes, and upon the islands in great 

 swamps. It builds its nest in the same manner as our Common 

 Crane, and, like it, lays only two eggs, which are also very similar, 

 both in form and colour and markings, to those of its congeners. 

 They are, however, smaller. We possess a solitary example of a 

 dark olive green colour, slightly marked with brown spots. It is 

 very similar to a Bustard's e§^g in colour, but has the characteristic 

 shell of the Crane. These eggs also become varied by both species 

 interbreeding." It builds in the Crimea, where, in fact, it is stated 

 by Pallas to be the Crane of the country. 



