HERON. 



Jived twenty-four years at Verfailks, which had been raifed 

 there*. 



37 



G.-us Leucogeranos, Pall. Trav. ii. p. 714. 30. t. 1. — Georgi Rei/e, p. 171. 5. 



Sibirian Crane, Aril. Zool. p. 455. SIBLRIAN CR. 



^IS is a very large fpecies, being four feet fix inches high, Description, 

 when ftanding erect. The bill ihaped like that of a crane, 

 but bigger, and of a red colour j the mandibles ferrated at the 

 edges near the tip : the face naked beyond the eyes ; rugofe, of a 

 red colour, and fprinkled with numerous rufous tubercles : irides 

 white: the plumage white as fnow, except the ten fir ft greater 

 quills, with the coverts of them, which are black : the fcapulars 

 fhorter than in the Crane : tail pretty even, confifting of twelve 

 feathers : legs long, red. 



In old birds the hind part of the neck is yellowifli : young 

 birds of the firft year are wholly of an oker colour j with the 

 face, bill, and legs of a greenifh brown. 



This fpecies inhabits the vaft marfties and lakes in Sibiria, Place am> 

 efpecially thofe about the If him, and along the rivers Ob and 

 Irtijh. Makes the neft among the reeds, feldom acceffible by 

 man, upon rifing green graffy tufts, made up of herbs and grafs 

 heaped together : lays two afh-coloured eggs of the fize of thofe 

 of a Goofe, and fpotted with brown. 



Thefe are fhy birds, and always upon their guard againft an 

 enemy ; having a centinel to warn them of an approach : on the 

 leaft alarm cry aloud, not unlike the Swan, and fly off directly- 



• Hift. des Qif. 



The 



Manners. 



