Family GRUID^. Genus Grus. 



DEMOISELLE CRANE. 



GRUS VlKGO—{Ltnnceus). 



Geographical Distribution. — British .• Very rare visitor on 

 migration to the British Islands. Its claim to this distinction 

 rests on one solitary recorded occurrence. On the 14th of May, 

 1863, a pair were observed, one of which, a male, was shot at 

 Deerness, East Mainland, Orkney. Foreign : Palasarctic region, 

 summer ; parts of Oriental and Ethiopian regions, winter. The 

 only European breeding places are in Southern Spain, the 

 western shores of the Black Sea, and the steppes of South 

 Russia between lat. 50° and the Caucasus. In Asia it breeds in 

 Turkestan and South-west Siberia as far north as lat. 53°, in 

 Dauria, the Baikal country. Eastern Mongolia, and the north- 

 west of China. Its winter quarters are on the plains of India ; it 

 also passes up the Nile valley to winter in Sennar south to lat. 12". 

 During its migrations it has accidentally wandered into Scan- 

 dinavia, Germany (including Heligoland), Spain, Switzerland, 

 Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. 



Allied Forms. — None of sufficient propinquity to call for 

 notice. 



Time during which the Demoiselle Crane may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist; otherwise by authority of 

 owner or occupier of land. 



Habits. — The Demoiselle Crane is just as regular in its 

 migrations to and from its breeding grounds as the preceding 

 species. Like that bird it journeys in large flocks which usually 

 assume an angular formation like the letter V or W. They fly at 

 enormous altitudes, sometimes beyond the range of human vision. 

 In Europe the Demoiselle Crane arrives at its breeding grounds 



