THE COMMON CRANE. 825 



Characters and allied form. — M. g. lilfordi (E. Siberia) is 

 rather paler on upper -parts and wing-coverts and red area on hind- 

 part of crown is much restricted. Large size, almost uniform grey 

 colour, absence of elongated feathers on head and breast and 

 almost bare crown distinguish Crane from other British birds. 

 Field -characters. — A large, long-legged somewhat Heron -like 

 bird, usually preferring marshy ground, and graceful in shape, light 

 head and more uniform leaden-blue colouring than Heron. At 

 close quarters black and white on head and neck can be distin- 

 guished and crimson patch on crown is quite characteristic, but the 

 apparently large and loosely feathered tail caused by the elongated 

 secondaries forms a better character in distance. Flies with neck out- 

 stretched, frequently in V formation, and when colour cannot be seen 

 against sky, loud clanging call-notes form a certain distinction from 

 Storks which are silent on the wing, but might be mistaken for them 

 in distance. (F. C.R.J.) 



Breeding -habits. — Haunts morasses, lagoons and swampy woods. 

 Nest. — A heap of vegetable matter, reeds, sedge, rushes or other 

 available material, sometimes with twigs as foundation, placed in 

 water in reed-bed or in open swamp and sometimes on marshy 

 clearings in thick forest or in thinly wooded swamps. Eggs. — Two, 

 though three are said to have occurred, elongated oval, ranging 

 from greyish-olive to brown with a greenish tinge, blotched and 

 spotted with dark and light reddish -brown and ashy -grey. Average 

 of 100 eggs, 96.42X62.35. Max.: 109x63.5 and 107x67. Min. : 

 87.8x60.8 and 104x56.7 mm. Breeding -season. —From. mid-April 

 in S. Europe but later in Central and N. Europe ; not till June in 

 Arctic region. Incubation. — Is said to be shared between the sexes 

 and the period is given as about 30 days (Wurm). Single brooded. 

 Food. — In British Isles vegetable matter, roots of grasses and 

 aquatic plants, also insects, including diptera (Tipula), coleoptera 

 (Agriotes, Aphodius, Geotrupes, etc.), and mollusca (Arion and 

 small univalves). On Continent seeds of grain of various kinds 

 (oats, acorns, beans, rice, buckwheat, etc.), leaves of grass, clover, 

 corn, orthoptera {Gryllotalpa, etc.), odonata, and on one occasion a 

 small bird (Acrocephalus paludicola), frogs, small mammals such as 

 mice and shrews, worms, etc. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Rare vagrant. Bred East Anglia 

 up to about 1600 and subsequently regular winter-visitor (perhaps 

 also common 1 , n Ireland 12th-14th century) but for last century or 

 more only irregular. Has occurred most counties England ; rarely 

 Wales (last Anglesey, May, 1908) ; rarely Scotland (latest Pentland 

 Skerries, May, 1903, Shetlands, May, 1906, Lewis (O. Hebrides), 

 May, 1906, Kirkcudbrightshire, June, 1920) ; very rarely Ireland 

 (latest Tipperary, Sept., 1906, Donegal, June, 1896). Bones found 

 in cave in Clare. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in Europe from Scandinavia, 

 Finland, Livonia, greater part of Russia, and N. Germany to Balkan 



