TION. 



1^ CRANE HERON. Class IL 



conclude, that these birds have forsaken our 

 island. A single bird was killed near Cam- 

 bridge about three years ago, and is the only 

 instance I ever knew of the crane being seen in 

 this island in our time*. They were formerly 

 in high esteem at our tables, for the delicacy of 

 their flesh ; for they feed only on grain, herbs, 

 or insects ; so have nothing of the rankness of the 

 piscivorous birds of this genus. 

 Descrip- The weight of the crane is about ten pounds ; 

 the length six feet ; the bill of a darkish green, 

 four inches long; and a little depressed on the top 

 of the upper mandible ; the top of the head co- 

 vered with black bristles ; the back of the head 

 bald and red, beneath which is an ash-colored 

 spot ; from the eyes, on each side, is a broad 

 white line the whole length of the neck; the fore 

 part as far as the breast is black ; the quil fea- 

 thers are black ; the tail ash-colored, tipt with 

 black ; all the rest of the plumage is ash-colored. 

 The legs are black. 



No author, except Gesner, takes notice of a 

 large tuft of feathers that spring out of one pi- 



* Not more than four instances occur within my memory 

 of the Crane having been met with in England: the first at 

 Camlridge ; the second was seen by Mr. Boys, on the Medway j 

 the third also on the Medway, near Burham, in January 1794; 

 the fourth, ' on rather slight authorityj in Cardiganshire. 



: . . , . . , . - ^ J. L. . 



