356 



(Stray Feathers, iv. p. 15) : — " The Demoiselle Crane occurs in immense flocks all over the plains 

 in the cold weather, arriving about the first week in October. Dr. Jerdon remarks that ' it never 

 betakes itself to tanks or jheels during the day;' this is an erroneous impression, as I have seen 

 tanks fringed with a blue margin of these birds at least sixty yards wide, and extending over 

 several acres of ground, over and over again." 



It is found in Southern and South-eastern Siberia, where it breeds. According to Dr. Radde 

 these Cranes arrived at the Tarei-nor in large numbers on the 24th April (O. S.) ; on the 24th 

 May they were paired ; and on the 27th July young unfledged birds were seen between Altansk 

 and Bukukun, on the southern slope of the Apfelgebirge, at an altitude of 3500 feet above the 

 sea-level. He met with these birds also at the headwaters of the Jenesei, on a flat steppe-like 

 piece of ground near the Kossogoll lake, at an altitude of 5400 feet. On the 13th August they 

 collected in flocks at the Tarei-nor; and most left in the night of the 15th August, only a 

 few remaining till the 22nd ; and by the 30th of that month all had gone. Dr. Dybowski, who 

 has frequently obtained it in Dauria, says {fide Taczanowski, J. f. O. 1873, p. 100), it is "not 

 uncommon in Kultuk during the time of migration ; it nests in the valley of Irkut, near the 

 Changinskish military post, arriving in the first half of May, and leaving again from before the 

 middle of August to the middle of September; we have seen single individuals till the 25th inst. 

 It is commoner in the vicinity of Darasun, where it is found breeding. It nests on the rocky 

 banks of rivers, and rarely on bare mountains. The nest is made of small stones, fitting close to 

 each other ; the surface of the nest is flat, or deepening somewhat towards the centre ; it chooses 

 sometimes a place which is a few inches higher than the surrounding ground, and fills up all 

 the crevices and openings with stones. We have seen eggs in June and till the middle of July." 

 Colonel Prjevalsky remarks (in Howl. Orn. Misc.): — " It is the only Crane that breeds in Mongolia, 

 not only in the fertile districts, but also in the deserts of Ala-shan, where they frequent the wells, 

 visiting them regularly to quench their thirst. This they usually do after the Mongols have 

 driven their cattle to drink, and when small puddles are left by the latter at the edge of the well. 

 When living in the desert their food consists principally of a species of Phrynocephalus (sp. nov.), 

 which is very abundant there. They arrive in Mongolia in spring, about the end of March, and 

 leave early in September. Only a single flock appeared at Koko-nor on the 28th February, after 

 which we never met with any there ; but we saw a large flock, on the 16th September, in Kansu, 

 on migration, in company with Grus communis. It does not occur in the Ussuri country." 

 Pere David remarks that he never observed it on the great plain of Pekin, but that it is numerous 

 on the western frontiers of China. 



In general habits the present species does not differ much from the common Crane. I have 

 only seen it at a distance when on the Southern Danube, and have therefore had no opportunity 

 of personally observing its habits. Von Nordmann has given (in Demidoff's Voy. Puss, merid. 

 iii. p. 268) one of the best accounts of it, which I translate as follows: — "The Demoiselle Crane 

 is a migrant in Southern Pussia, arriving early in March, and leaving in large flocks for the 

 south about the middle of September. When on passage these flocks fly very high, and form a 

 figure like the common Crane does. The individuals change places frequently, and often utter 

 their trumpet-like call kroaaou-kroaaou ; and not unfrequently their cries alone indicate the 

 presence of these flocks, which are passing out of sight. The largest flock of Grus virgo I have 



