IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 315 



with a mellow weirdness about it ; the white crane appears to be fonder 

 of water than the saras or any other crane. The common, Manchurian 

 and Japanese white cranes have not thriven well here, and have generally 

 behaved in a listless way. The dance of the demoiselle cranes at the 

 commencement of the breeding season is well worth observing ; it has 

 been graphically described by Yon Nordmann, and quoted by Hume 

 and Marshall in " Grame Birds of India, &c." " They dance and 

 jump," Yon Nordmann says," towards each other, bowing themselves 

 in a most burlesque manner, bending their necks forward, extending 

 the plumes on the neck and depressing their wings ; others again in 

 the meanwhile run races, and on arrival at the goal return striding 

 along gravely and quietly, whilst the rest of the assembly greet them 

 with reiterated cries, inclinations of the head, and other demonstra- 

 tions." It appears that this dance depends a great deal upon the 

 number of birds living together. With occasional interruptions, a few 

 of these birds have always been living in the garden ever since its 

 establishment, but they were never noticed to dance before. It was in 

 the spring of 1891 that they were for the first time observed to indulge 

 in this habit, their number having previously been augmented by the 

 accession of a good many new specimens. During the season of 

 migration they become inordinately restless, calling incessantly and 

 making repeated ineffectual attempts at flight ; they are always lively 

 and active in the forenoon, but generally quieter in the afternoon. 

 The specimen of the beleario crane living in the garden is a most 

 amusing creature ; but it has its moods : grave or gay, pugnacious or 

 amiable ; it has two distinct call notes, uttered in succession ; and mostly 

 heard while shut up in its house. 



(327) THE INDIAN HOUBABA BTJSTABD. 

 (HOUBAEA MACQUEENI— J. E. Gray Sf Sardw.) 



Description.— He&& crested ; the crest is composed of a series of 

 lengthened slender feathers in the centre of the crown ; those in front 

 white with black tips, those behind wholly white ; upper plumage pale 

 buff and beautifully mottled ; terminal half of the primaries black ; 

 cheeks white, with black shafts and tips ; the throat white ; neck 

 delicate fulvous ; under parts white ; the neck ruff begins from near the 

 ear coverts ; those at the sides of the neck are very long, white at the 

 base and black at the tip ; bill horny or horny slate colour ; irides 

 pale to bright yellow; legs ' and feet pale yellow. Total length from 

 25 to 27 inches. 



Hab. — The plains of the Punjab, Bajputana, Northern Gfuzerat, 

 Cutch, the northern parts of Kattywar and Sindh ; stragglers may some- 

 times be found in other places in North-West India during the cold 

 weather; common and abundant in the desert tracts of Bikaneer, 

 Jodhpore, and adjacent tracts. They are cold weather visitants to India, 

 and are found throughout the year in Afghanistan and Persia. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 Specimens have been living since April 1890. 



