1 e J e J 



Family GRTJIDJE. 



Genus GRUS., 



Ciconia apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 388 (1760). 

 Ardea apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 234 (1766). 



Grus, Bechstein, Vog. Deutschl. iii. p. 60 (1793). 

 Anthropoides apud Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. ii. p. 163 (1816). 

 Scops apud G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of B. p. 86 (1841). 

 Antigone apud Reichenbach, Syst. Av. p. xxii (1851). 

 Leucogeranus apud Bonaparte, Cat. Parzud. p. 9 (1856). 



By many authors the Cranes have been associated with the Herons ; but they differ very widely 

 in structure as well as in habits ; and, besides, the young when first hatched are able to run 

 about, whereas the young of the Herons are helpless when they emerge from the egg. The 

 Cranes are very widely distributed over the surface of the globe, being found in the Palsearctic, 

 Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, and Nearctic Regions, three species being found in the 

 Western Palsearctic Region, two of which are resident, the third (Grus leucogeranus) being 

 a straggler from the Eastern Paleearctic Region. Grus antigone is said by Von Nordmann to 

 have occurred on the Don ; but I cannot find any proof that a specimen has ever really been 

 obtained in Europe. 



The Cranes frequent open flat localities, either large marshes or open steppes, where they 

 can have an uninterrupted view over the surrounding country. They are wary and watchful to 

 a degree ; and it is most difficult to approach within gunshot range of them. They walk with 

 ease, and are as a rule remarkably swift-footed ; and when on the wing they fly well and swiftly, 

 though steadily and sedately ; but they rise into the air with some difficulty, and when they 

 settle they run for a short distance with outstretched wings before they can bring themselves to 

 a standstill. Their note is loud and trumpet-like, and may be heard at a considerable distance. 

 - They feed on vegetable substances of various kinds, and are said to be partial to acorns. They 

 breed in marshes, constructing a nest of twigs and grass, which is placed on the ground, and 

 depositing two eggs, which are olive-grey or olive-brown in colour, streaked and blotched with 

 reddish brown and pale brown. 



Grus communis, the type of the genus, has the bill much longer than the head, straight, 

 tapering to the point, which is rather obtuse and notchless ; nasal groove extending to the centre 

 of the bill, the nostrils, which are linear and direct, placed in the fore part of this groove ; the 

 greater part of the head is bare and sparsely covered with hair-like feathers ; wings long and 

 full, the third quill longest, the primaries attenuated on the inner web ; the inner secondaries 

 longer than the closed wing, curved outwards, the filaments loose towards the end ; tail short, 

 rounded ; the legs long, the tibia bare for about a fourth of its length, and covered with 

 hexagonal scales ; tarsus anteriorly scutellate, having hexagonal scales on the sides and larger 

 scales behind ; hind toe small, anterior toes short and stout, the third and fourth connected at 

 the base ; claws short, decurved, rather obtuse, the third having an inner, thin, entire edge. 



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