NUMIDIAN CRANE. 29 



Crane is much sought after by sportsmen. The flesh 

 is excellent eating; and it is also prized on account of 

 the fine black plumes on the neck." 



Captain Irby ("Ibis," vol. iii, p. 243,) also notices 

 its occurrence in India, where he says it is found 

 near the Rivers Choka and Kurnalli, where flocks of 

 several hundreds may be seen on the wing at once, 

 and recognised by their cry when even out of sight. 

 According to M. Nordmann, these flocks fly in the 

 order represented in the following diagram, and they 



.1^1^ ■«>-, a^— 1*— ^ 



every now and then change their places like other 

 Cranes. 



M. Nordmann has also given us a most interesting 

 account of the habits of these birds, when they are 

 assembled on the Steppes in large bodies after their 

 flights. They arrange themselves in a circle or in 

 many rows, when they will bow and dance to each 

 other in a most grotesque manner. I will give 

 Nordmann's description in his own words: — "They 

 arrive in the south of Russia about the beginning of 

 March, in flocks of between two and three hundred 

 individuals. Arrived at the end of their journey, the 

 flock keeps together for some time, and even when they 

 have dispersed in couples, they re-assemble every 

 morning and evening, preferring in calm weather to 

 exercise themselves together, and amuse themselves by 



