194 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[Oct. 



" The Sa?'ru3 lives always in pair?, though several pairs are frequent- 

 ly seen together, and occasionally, though rarely, a stray bird, either a 

 young one, or one that has lost its mate, with another pair. Every 

 morning they are seen at sun-iise winging their way to the cultivated fields, 

 to feed upon grain, their sole aliment — and about 11 or 12 o'clock, they 

 make their way to the nearest w-ater to drink, always preferring the 

 sandy beds of rivers, where they are seen in the greatest numbers, but 

 not disdaining to resort to tanks, should no stream be near. There 

 they remain all day, and at evening again, betake themselves to the 

 fields, returning to pass the night by the water side. When alarmed 

 and w hen on the wing in the morning flights, they utter a fine clear 

 trumpet-like note." 



The Sarrus is migratory, appearing in the Peninsula only in the cold 

 weather. 



Irides vinous red ; bill pale sea green, brownish at the tip ; legs 

 rosy red, passing into brown in front. Length 52 inches ; expansion of 

 wings 7 feet 9 inches ; tarsus 13 ; bill 6 ; weight 17 lbs. 



From the testimony of Shikaries and others, there appears to be 

 another large Crane, which occasionally visits the Peninsula, and from 

 the descriptions I have heard, it is probably the Grus Torqmta of Vieil- 

 ^ot and Wagler. 



293. — G. cinerea. — Ardea Grus, L. — Koolung, H. — Common Crane. 



The well known Crane is found in India in the cold season only, 

 living in pairs or small parties of 6, 8, or more. Has similar habits and 

 food with the Sanms CraYie. On one occasion I found the flowers of 

 the Koosoom {Cartliamus tinctorius) to have been the only food partaken 

 of. This was late in March when most of the grains were cut. The 

 Koolung is often seen in company with the next bird. 



Irides reddish yellow, brown in some; bill sea green; legs black. 

 Length 3|- feet ; expansion of wings about 6 feet ; tarsus 8| ; bill at 

 front 4. 



Sub Gekus ANTHROPOIDES, Vieillot. 



299.—^. Virgo— Ardea Virgo, L,— Za Demoiselle, BufF. P. E., 241. 

 —Kurronch, H. also Kurkurrali. — KurkoncJia, Can. ; all named from the 

 call of the bird — Demoiselle Crane. 



This most elegant, and chastely coloured bird is found over most of 

 the Peninsula, during the cold weather, and in much greater numbers 



