DEMOISELLE CRANE. 
GRUS VIRGO (Linn.). 
Ardea virgo, Linn. S. N. i. p. 234 (1766). 
Grus virgo, Yarr. ed. 4, ili. p. 192; Dresser, vii. p. 353. 
Demoiselle de Numidie, French; Jungfern Kranich, Ger- 
man; Grulla moruna, Spanish. 
This very beautiful bird is an exceedingly rare visitor 
to our country—in fact, one of the only two recorded 
instances of its occurrence is said to rest upon very 
unsatisfactory evidence. I quote from the 4th edition 
of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ as to the other :—‘ A male 
example of the Numidian or Demoiselle Crane was shot 
at Deerness, East Mainland, Orkney, on May 14th, 
1863, and a companion bird was pursued, but not 
obtained (‘ Zoologist,’ 1863, p. 8692). ‘The above spe- 
cimen subsequently became the property of Mr. W. 
Christy Horsfall, of Horsforth-Low Hall, near Leeds.” 
I must add that the editor seems to be of opinion that 
these birds may probably have escaped from captivity, 
a contingency which is of course possible, but to my 
mind most improbable. 
This Crane breeds in the great marshes of Morocco 
