IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 311 



(318) THE SAEAS CEANE. 



(GRUS ANTIGONE— (Linn.) ) 

 Hindi and Bengali — Saras. 



It is a well-known bird, and therefore no description is necessary. 



Sab. — India and Burmah ; not common in Lower Bengal. For 

 a detailed account of its distribution see Hume and Marshall's " Game 

 Birds of India, &c." 



Length of life in captivity. 



Saras cranes are generally hardy and live for years ; the nestling 

 and yearling birds which are frequently brought for sale, are, however, 

 sometimes difficult to rear. 



(319) THE COMMON CEANE. 



(GEUS COMMUNIS— Bechst.) 



Hindi — Kulung. 



Description. — The prevailing colour of the plumage dark ashy, 

 washed with faint bluish ; forehead black ; crown red ; sides of the head 

 and neck white. In most specimens the white has a reddish or buffy 

 tinge ; tertiaries elongated, floating and black tipped. The colour of the 

 bill varies a good deal in shade in different individuals ; it is usually 

 dingy horny green ; the colour of the irides also varies ; legs black. 



Hab. — Pound throughout Europe, extending to Northern Africa, 

 Palestine, Asia Minor, Persia, Afghanistan, Siberia, and China. In 

 India it is a winter visitant only, being more common in the north than 

 towards the east ; there is no record of its ever being found in Lower 

 Bengal. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The longest period during which any of these birds has as yet lived 

 here has been three years and a few months only. 



(320) THE AUSTEALIAN CEANE. 



(GRUS AUSTRALASIANA— Gould.) 



It resembles the saras crane, but is somewhat smaller, and the 

 extent of the red, which is lighter and of a buffy tinge, limited. 

 Hab. — Australia. 



Length of life in captivity 

 Four years. 



