30 



NUMIDIAN CRANE. 



dancing. For this purpose they choose a convenient 

 place, generally the flat shore of a stream. There they 

 place themselves in a line, or in many rows, and 

 begin their games and extraordmary dances, which 

 are not a little surprising to the spectator, and of 

 which the account would be considered fabulous, were 

 it not attested by men worthy of belief. They dance 

 and jump around each other, bowing in a burlesque 

 manner, advancing their necks, raising the feathers of 

 the neck tufts, and half unfolding the wings. In the 

 mean time another set are disputing in a race the 

 prize for swiftness. Arrived at the winning-post they 

 turn back, and walk slowly, and with gravity; all the 

 rest of the company saluting them with reiterated cries, 

 inclinations of the head, and other demonstrations which 

 are reciprocated. After having done this for some 

 time, they all rise in the air, where, slowly sailing, 

 they describe circles, like the Swan and other Cranes. 

 After some weeks these assemblies cease, and from that 

 time they are constantly seen walking in loving pairs 

 together, male and female." 



In support of this statement Mr. Tristram says, 

 ("Ibis," vol. ii, p. 76,) "A small flock of this graceful 

 and interesting bird might generally be seen quitting 

 one margin of a salt-pond as we approached the 

 opposite edge. My acquaintance being so distant, I 

 can only add my testimony to the truth of their 

 attachment to the Terpsichorean art from the habits of 

 four kept in the courtyard of General Yussuf, at Blidah, 

 which I have seen performing a stately minuet or 

 concert for an hour together." 



The Numidian Crane lives upon insects, lizards, and 

 serpents. It builds a nest of dry herbs and sticks, in 

 which it lays two eggs, which are very like those of 



