530 
SIBERIAN CRANE. 
Height four feet six inches : the beak large 
and red : the face naked beyond the eyes, papil- 
lated, and of a red colour : irides white : the ten 
first greater quills and their coverts deep black ; 
the rest of the plumage snowy white : the tail 
nearly even, consisting of twelve feathers : legs 
red. The young of the first year are entirely of an 
ochraceous hue, with the face, beak, and legs, 
greenish brown : the old have the hind part of the 
neck yellowish. 
This species inhabits the great marshes and 
lakes of Siberia : it constructs its nest in almost 
inaccessible situations, amongst the reeds ; it is 
constructed of herbs and grass : the female lays 
two ash-coloured eggs, of the size of those of a 
Goose : they are spotted with brown. During the 
period of incubation these birds are very bold, and 
will attack any person that approaches their haunts : 
both sexes are said to watch the nest alternately : 
at other times they are very shy, and immediately 
upon any one appearing in sight they set up a 
loud scream, and fly off They feed upon frogs, 
small fish, lizards, and such like, and breed in the 
northern parts : they are supposed to winter about 
the Caspian Sea, as they retire southward in the 
autumn. 
