128 GRUID.E. 



birds never quarrel among themselves, nor are they known 

 to interfere with other species. The call-note of the Crane 

 is a very loud, harsh, and peculiar sound, and is best de- 

 scribed by comparing it to a trumpet sounding the word 

 curr or coor, and this accounts for the birds being heard 

 long before they are seen. The young birds of the year 

 utter the word sheeb or weeb : when very young they chirp. 

 When a great flock is on the wing the cry of these birds is 

 consequently confused. 



The Crane moults from June till August. This species 

 when in confinement, either brought up young from the nest 

 or winged, is very easily tamed, and becomes soon attached 

 to its keeper or to persons that it sees frequently. Under 

 such circumstances, it must not be forgotten that the bird 

 is strong, and dangerous if it is out of temper ; and the 

 beak being powerful, as well as entirely at the command 

 of its possessor, owing to its slender and pliable neck, is 

 the weapon to be avoided. The before-mentioned con- 

 tinental ornithologist, Brehm, relates some interesting par- 

 ticulars of a pair of Cranes which he had procured when the 

 birds were only a few days old. This pair of Cranes, a male 

 and a female, became soon tame, attached themselves to their 

 keeper, and came when called by their respective names. 

 Their lodging was in the farm-yard, where they very soon 

 took the lead, settled the quarrels of their companions, and 

 punished the offenders according to circumstances. They 

 exacted respect, and kept up their own dignity, ruling over 

 bulls, cows, foals, &c, but declining at all times to interfere 

 with the pigs. When their master walked out, they ac- 

 companied him wherever he went ; and, as they were not 

 sufficiently pinioned to prevent their flying, they sometimes 

 remained out for the whole day, although they invariably 

 returned home at night. When a flight of wild Cranes 

 passed over, the two birds alluded to never showed so much 



