338 



very rare straggler to the neighbourhood of GuriefF, at the mouth of the Ural River, and during 

 sixteen years it was met with on only three occasions, and one was shot and preserved. 



Von Nordmann (in Demidoff's Voy. Russ. Merid. iii. pp. 265, 266) says that during the five 

 years previous to when he wrote it had only, so far as he knew, been twice observed in that 

 district. He himself never saw the bird alive, but received specimens killed at Rostoff on the 

 Don. Finally, it is recorded by Dr. Radde (Orn. Cauc. p. 391), on the authority of General 

 Komaroff, who lived several years at Derbent, on the west coast of the Caspian, as occurring 

 there on passage. 



I have not been able to obtain a specimen killed within the Western Palsearctic area for 

 examination and comparison ; and Mr. Blanford informs me that in India it is so strictly resident 

 that he greatly doubts whether it really has occurred as far west as Russia. Thus I had grave 

 doubts as to whether I should include it, and only decided on so doing after being assured by 

 Professor Menzbier that it really has been obtained as far west as the Ural. I do not find it 

 recorded from Transcaspia or Persia ; but according to Dr. Jerdon (B. of India, iii. p. 663) the 

 Sarus is found throughout the greater part of India, is rare south of the Godaveri, and also 

 apparently in the Punjab, for Adams states that he did not see it there, but common in Central 

 India, Bengal, and parts of the N.W. Provinces, and still more so in Kandeish. It has been also 

 recorded by various subsequent writers from various parts of India : by Beavan from Umballa 

 and Barrackpur ; by Capt. Hayes Lloyd as common at Kattiawar ; by Mr. A. O. Hume from 

 Sind, where it is rare ; by Mr. R. M. Adam from the Sambhur Lake, where it breeds ; by 

 Mr. V. Ball as rare in Manbhum, but common in the open valleys of Sirguja; by Capt. Butler 

 as common in Northern Guzerat ; by Scully as common in the Nepal Tarai ; by Mr. George Reid 

 as breeding near Lucknovv ; by Mr. Davidson as a straggler to Western Khandeish ; by Mr. F. B. 

 Simson as not uncommon throughout Dacca and Mymensing in Eastern Bengal. In Burma, 

 Cochin China, and south to Penang the present species is replaced by a nearly allied form, Grus 

 sharpii, Blanford (Ibis, 1896, p. 136), which differs in lacking the white band on the neck below 

 the bare or granulated portion, and the inner secondaries are pearl-grey and not white. 



In its general habits the Sarus Crane is confiding and fearless, and is generally not molested; 

 in the territories of Holkar it is, Dr. Jerdon says, if not venerated, esteemed so highly as to 

 be held sacred from the shikaries, and he has known complaints made against officers for 

 shooting them. It is seldom found far from water, and breeds in wet, swampy localities. It is 

 usually found in pairs, but occasionally several are seen together. Its note is a clear loud 

 trumpet-like call, which, if uttered when alarmed or on the wing, may be heard a couple of 

 miles off. 



According to Mr. A. O.Hume (Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 2nd ed. iii. p. 372) the breeding- 

 season is in July or August, occasionally as late as November, and towards the end of June the 

 old birds, which pair for life, commence to construct their nest, which is usually placed on some 

 island or in a very shallow part in the midst of the largest jheel or swamp that they can find. 

 "The nest," he says, " is a huge heap, a broad truncated cone, composed of reeds and rushes and 

 straw, varying much in size according to situation and circumstances. At top it is about two feet 

 in diameter, with a central depression from four to eight inches deep for the eggs. If, as is 

 commonly the case, the nest is placed in water, the bottom of the egg-cavity will be from eight 



