OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 93 



Allied forms. — None with which it is likely to be confused. Eastern 

 examples of the Crane have been described as a distinct species under the name 

 of Grus lilfordi, because of their alleged paler colouration. Whether, however, 

 they are entitled to subspecific rank even appears very doubtful, and for the 

 present, at any rate, it seems the wisest course to keep them united. 



Habits. — It is the British ornithologist's misfortune that the habits of this 

 magnificent bird can be studied no longer in these islands, which were once its 

 home. The haunts of the Crane are in extensive swamps, where lakes, and 

 bogs, and rough ground, clothed with scrub, and heath, and rushes abound. Some 

 of these haunts are surrounded by forests, but the Crane shows no partiality for 

 trees, and never appears to alight in them. In my opinion its affinity to the 

 Bustards is manifested in this singular habit. At all times it is an excessively 

 shy bird, detecting danger from afar as it stands in its treeless, open wilderness, 

 and unfolding its broad wings and soaring away long before harm can reach it. 

 At all times of the year it is more or less gregarious, but becomes most so during 

 winter. To Northern Europe the Crane is a bird of regular passage, and 

 performs its migrations in companies, which fly at an enormous height, usually 

 in the shape of a V or W. These flocks appear to migrate by day. Cranes are 

 birds of somewhat early passage, those that have wintered in Africa beginning to 

 return in February and March, reaching their breeding grounds in Central 

 Europe towards the end of that month or early in April, but not arriving in the 

 Arctic regions before May. The return Journey is undertaken during October. 

 The flight of this species is powerful and rapid, with slow and regular beat of 

 wing, the long neck extended and the legs held out behind. It walks about the 

 ground in a very graceful manner, and wades in the stagnant waters in quest of 

 its food. This consists of a great variety of substances, but mostly of a 

 vegetable character ; grain of all kinds, grass, the buds and shoots of aquatic 

 plants, acorns, insects, lizards, frogs, and, according to Hume, small fish. The 

 same authority states that in India its favourite food is the young pods and 

 yellow pea-like flowers of an arborescent pulse (Gajanus indicus) , and that it is 

 addicted to water melons, boring into these fruits not only to obtain the pulp and 

 seeds, but also to quench its thirst. When feeding, Cranes are very wary birds, 

 and usually post sentinels to give timely warning of the approach of danger. In 

 India, where this bird is very common during the cold season, and swarms in the 

 rice fields, Hume states that they feed principally in the early morning, but often 

 pay other yet shorter visits to the grounds during the day and night. On 

 returning from their meal they fly round and round above their usual resting- 

 place as if surveying the ground before alighting, all the time calling loudly, and 

 then generally descend in graceful sweeps, with their long legs hanging down 

 some little time before they reach the earth. The Crane sleeps standing on one 

 leg, with the head and neck buried amongst the dorsal plumes. Here, towards 



