36 GBUS ANTIGONE. 



The species has also been figured by Brisson, vol. v, pi. 41, and 

 Buffon, pi. enl. 265. 



The egg is copied from Thienemann. Mr. Layard (Ibis, vol. v., 

 1869, p. 376,) says, "The egg of Balearic Crane, figured by Dr. Bree, 

 in his ' Birds of Europe,' gives a very fair idea of the egg sent by 

 Mr. Arnott; only the spots are more concentrated and fewer, and 

 the ground is green." 



Grus antigone, Keyserling and Blasius {Ardea antigone, Linn., 

 Grus orientalis indica, Brisson, Ardea torquata Latham, Grus torquata 

 et antigone, Vieillot,) is reported by M. Nordmann to have been 

 seen occasionally in Russia. I do not, however, think it ought to 

 be included in the European list. It is a larger bird than G. 

 leucogeranus, standing upwards of five feet. It has the head and 

 upper half of the neck naked, and in plumage is bluish grey, with 

 the first primaries black. 



In India, G. antigone is found in great numbers in the cold 

 season. Unlike the Common Crane, it appears in pairs like G. 

 leucogeranus. An interesting description of its habits and nidification 

 is given by Colonel Irby, (Ibis, vol. iii., p. 242.) 



It forms an immense nest of grass and rushes in the centre of 

 large jheels, in which, in June, it lays two eggs, some of which 

 are spotted with red at the larger end, while others are pure 

 white. They are very tame, easily reared by the hand, and very 

 amusing in their habits. "The flesh is like that of the goose, and 

 makes capital soup; the liver is considered a delicacy." 



