120 NATURALIST'S 



Description Nests Food. 



The Italians have taken it for a bird of prey, but 

 this author seems of another mind. A Brasiliart 

 bird called the soco seems also, in every respect^ 

 to resemble the lesser heron. 



THE CRANE. 



THIS large bird, measures upwards of five 

 feet in length. The bill is above four inched 

 long. The plumage is, in general, ash-coloured J 

 but the forehead is black; and the sides of the 

 head, behind the eyes, and the hind part of the 

 neck, are white ; on the upper part of the neck 

 there is a bare ash-coloured space of two inches; 

 and above this the skin is bare and red, with a 

 few scattered hairs. Some parts about the wings 

 are blackish: from the pinion of each wing 

 springs an elegant tuft of loose feathers, curled at 

 the ends; which may be erected at will, but 

 which, in a quiescent state, hangs over and co- 

 vers the tail. The legs are black. 



This species is met with in numerous flocks in 

 all the northern parts of Europe. It is said that 

 they make their nests in marshes, and lay twa 

 blueish eggs. They feed on reptiles of all kinds, 

 and on some kinds of vegetables; while the corn 

 is green, they are said to make such havock a* 

 to ruin the farmers, wherever the flocks alight. 



The cranes are migratory; returning north- 

 ward to breed in the spring, (where they gene- 

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