THE KAFIR CROWNED CRANE 



(Balearica chrysopelargus) 



THE crowned cranes of Africa, of which there are three species, constituting 

 by themselves an exclusively African genus, are some of the handsomest 

 members of a beautiful and stately group of birds ; the fan-like array of 

 bristly feathers on the head, which constitutes the so-called "crown," conferring on 

 these cranes a regal appearance which is lacking in their smooth-headed relatives. 



Of the three species, one {Balearica pavonina) is a native of north-eastern 

 Africa, ranging southwards into West and Equatorial Africa ; the second, forming 

 the subject of the accompanying Plate and sometimes known as B. regtilontm 

 instead of by the designation here used, is a southern bird, ranging from the Cape 

 to the Zambesi and Loanza valleys ; while the third (B. gibbericeps) hails from 

 East Africa. 



As regards the distinctive features of these three cranes, the northern 

 species is greenish black above and dark grey below, with most of the feathers of 

 the sharply pointed lanceolate type ; the neck is delicate pearl-grey ; the secondary 

 quills are chestnut, and the wing-coverts partly white and yellow ; the twisted 

 bristly feathers forming the crown are yellow and white with black tips ; a bare 

 area on each side of the face is white above and pink below ; and black down 

 clothes the throat. This species has a very small wattle on the throat ; but in the 

 Kafir crane this wattle, as shown in the Plate, is much larger and mainly red in 

 colour. The southern species is further characterised by the greyer tone of the 

 plumage of the upper-parts, and the white cheek-patch, with only a margin of 

 crimson above. In the East African B. gibbericeps this cheek-patch becomes much 

 larger than in either of the other two species, extending backwards nearly to the 

 nape of the neck. 



The carriage of these handsome, well-built birds is upright ; while their gait, 

 when they are walking with measured steps, is calm and stately. These birds can, 

 however, run with great speed, so fast indeed that a man can keep up with them 

 only with difficulty. The flight is heavy and slow, with powerful, measured strokes 

 of the wings, and the neck and legs stretched out. The crest, or crown, is at the 

 same time depressed. When in flight, a party of cranes always arrange themselves 

 in wedge-shaped form in order to cleave their passage through the air with the 

 least possible resistance ; a very powerful bird taking up the position at the apex of 

 the triangle. As in all cranes, the cry is very loud and resounding ; its piercing, 

 trumpet-like notes being due to the complicated structure of the windpipe, which is 

 arranged in coils, and consists of more than three hundred bony rings. 



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