Orus antigone. 47 



GRUS ANTIGONE (Linn.). 



Geus Obientalis indicAj Briss. Ornith., vol. v., p. 378. (1760.) 

 Aedea ANTiaoNEj Linn. Sys. Nat., p. 235. (1766.) 

 GEtrs ANTiapNEj Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Aa., vol. ii., p. 102. (1811.) 

 Geeatee Indian Ceanb, Edwards, Nat. Hist., vol. i., pi. 45. (1743.) 

 Saeas or Steds Ceanb of the English in India. 

 In size, colouring, and proportions the Saras crane closely resembles the 

 "native companion'' of Australia, but is at once distinguished from all 

 except G. collaris by the much greater development of the nude skin, 

 which extends for some distance down the neck. Jerdon, who confounded 

 this species with the last, thus describes it : 



Head aad neck naked, and covered for three or four inches with numerous crimson 

 papillEe, clad with a few scant black hairs, which accumulate into a level ring on the 

 neck, and form a sort of mane down the nape of the neck ; ear-coverts white (or rather 

 pale grey) ; below this the neck is whitish grey, which gradually passes into the pale 

 blue or French grey, which is the colour of the whole plumage ; the quills and the 

 inner webs of the tail feathers being dusky slaty ; bill pale sea green, brownish at the 

 tip ; irides orange red ; legs and feet pale rosy red ; length about 52in. ; extent nearly 

 8ft. ; wing 26in. ; tail Qjin. ; bill at front O^in. ; tarsus 12^in. to 13in. ; weight 171b. or 

 181b. 



I am by no means sure that the foregoing dimensions are not rather 

 those of G. collaris. The two are decidedly confounded in the following 

 notice of the geographical distribution of what were supposed by Dr. 

 Jerdon to constitute a single species ; 



The Sards is found throughout the greater part of India and Burma, is rare south 

 of the Godavery, and also apparently in the Panj&b, for Adams states that he did not 

 see it there ; but common in Central India, Bengal, and parts of the north-west 

 provinces {i.e. G. collaris), and still more so in Candeish. It is chiefly found in pairs, 

 occasionally several together. 



It feeds less exclusively perhaps on grain than the other cranes met with in India, 

 and is very generally found not far from water. It breeds on some island or spot 

 nearly surrounded by water, laying two eggs only, of a very pale bluish green colour, 

 with a few reddish spots. The nest is sometimes commenced below water, and is 

 raised some inches above the surface. The young have the head and neck dull 

 ferruginous fso far down as the naked skin extends in the adult). The old birds, 

 when sitting or with their young, are very bold, facing an intruder, be it boy or man, 

 lowering their head, and spreading out their large wings in a most formidable-looking 

 manner. Its fine trumpet-like call, altered when alarmed or on the wing, can be heard 

 a couple of miles off. A young Saras is not bad eating, but old birds are worthless for 

 the table. Some epicures assert the liver to be peculiarly fine. In most parts of the 

 country it is so confiding and fearless in its habits as to preclude the sportsman from 

 shooting it, and in the territories of Holkar it is, if not venerated, esteemed so highly 

 as to be held sacred from the shihdris, and I have known complaints made against 

 ofiBcers for shooting them. 



It is not likely that there should be any perceptible difference of habit 

 between species so very nearly akin as are the two Saras Cranes of India. 



