210 ORNAMENTS OP THE VELD 



The Southern species may be known as the Cape Red- 

 necked Prancolin (P. nudicolUs), ranging as far north as 

 Lydenburg in the Transvaal, and differing from the northern 

 form (P. swainsoni) by having the feathers of the breast and 

 belly with white centres. 



They are found in thick bush, where they take refuge in 

 a tree when flushed. They nest under a tuft of grass beneath 

 a bush or tree, and lay from six to eight eggs. 



CRANES 



The members of the Family Gruidse are true ornaments 

 of the veld, being stately birds, represented in the sub- 

 continent by three conspicuous species. 



The Wattled Crane {Bugeranus carunculatus) is slate- 

 black on the back, with the wing and tail-feathers black ; 

 top of head dark slate ; cheeks and neck white ; entire 

 under-surface black. The face is covered with warts from 

 the base of the beak to the eyes, while below the throat 

 there are two pendent lappets, bare in front but feathered 

 on the hinder surface. Length, 66 inches. 



It is not a common bird anywhere, and is generally seen 

 in pairs or small parties on the open veld near marshy 

 localities, or in the neighbourhood of dams or vleis. 



It feeds on frogs and insects, varied by an occasional meal 

 of grain. 



The eggs are pale olive-brown, lightly marked with darker. 



The Blue or Stanley Crane {Anthropoides paradisea) is a 

 much commoner and better known species. It is of a pale 

 blue-grey colour throughout, excepting the crown of the 

 head, which is white, and the apical portion of the secon- 

 daries, which are black. Length, 48 inches. 



It is confined to South Africa ; we found it particularly 



