36 HERON. 



6.— JAPAN CRANE. 



Grus Japonensis, Bris. v. 381. Jd. Svo. ii. 309. Klein, 121. IV. Ind. Orn. ii. 675. 



Spalowsk. iii. t. 26. Johnst. Av. pi. 54. f. 4. 

 Japan Crane, Gen. Syn. v. 42. 



SIZE and shape of the Common Crane. Bill and legs dull 

 green ; the upper part of the head covered with a red skin, sprinkled 

 with a few bristly feathers ; fore part of the neck black ; behind, and 

 the rest of the plumage in general, white, except the greater quills, 

 which are black ; some of the secondaries pointed at the tips, and so 

 long as almost to reach the end of the tail. 



Inhabits Japan. This bird is frequently seen in Chinese paint- 

 ings, and paper hangings, as well as on porcelain ; in all these the 

 loose feathers, which hang over the tail, are black. It also appears 

 to vary in other respects ; for in the fine drawings of Lady Impey, 

 both the crown, as well as the neck before, are black ; body and 

 wings white ; and the long incurvated feathers on the rump ash- 

 coloured, tipped with black. In other drawings, in possession of 

 the late Mr. Pigou, the crown is red ; it is named Chuting-nock : 

 Chu-ting means a red crown, and Nock the name of the bird. 



In the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther, I find a fine Variety. The 

 bill dusky flesh-colour; plumage in general a delicate, bluish white; 

 between the bill and eye, forehead, as far as the crown, black ; chin 

 and fore part of the neck deep slate-colour ; nape the same ; between 

 this and the black on the crown, numerous red papillae, the part 

 appearing bare; the back and wings have a greater mixture of blue 

 in the feathers; tail short, white; the outer ridge of the wing black; 

 part of the second quills and tail coverts very long, inclined to pale 

 ash, and marked at the ends with black, beginning down the shaft, 

 and growing wider to the tips, which are wholly black : these fall 

 over the quills and tail in a state of rest, and hide both ; the legs 

 stout, and black. 



