170 
Crn}ir,<i. Efr., T» Capfivif?/. 
fined space. If they are allowed to wander over a larg'e field 
or paddock, they will be ahle to find sufficient worms, etc., to 
satisfy their wants in this respect for themselves. 
The Asiatic White Crane, however, usually requires a 
laj'g(! amount of animal food in the shape of fish, meat, otc. to 
Keep it in good health, and. if given the opportunity, will devour 
young Ducklings with the greatest gusto. Like all the larger 
Cranes it is extremely fond of fresh -water mussels, and a 
sup])h of these will always affoi-d a great treat. The species 
has never been bred in confinement, though infertile eggs 
have occasionally been laid. 
The li1tl(> Demoiselle Crane, the .smallest and one of 
the most beautiful of the genus, has been described as per- 
fectly hardy, but after considerable lexperience I cannot 
agree with this and should say that, except in the 
case of a few unusually robust individuals, access to a warm 
dry shed is an absolute necessity during the winter months. 
The species is strongly migratory and the young birds will, 
as a rule, desert their parents, and the cock bird his mate, 
as soon as the instinct begins to make itself felt in the autumn. 
Occasionally, however, the instinct proves dormant, and we had 
two full-winged cock birds at liberty for several years, which, 
although unpaired, never went away. Both, unfortunately had 
to be shot one spring, because they started to interfere with 
other Cranes, and it was impossible to catch them alive. 
The African Crowned Cranes are also birds w^hose 
hardiness, I should say, has been exaggerated, and I would 
advise the provision of artificial heat in winter if frost-bitten 
toes are to be avoided. Crowned Cranes have been kept suc- 
cessfully through the winter out of doors, even in the north of 
England, but I can only say that the owners of such birds 
have been unusually fortunate. With nearly all kinds of half- 
hardy birds, individuals are occasionally met with possessing 
power? of enduring cold far beyond those of the majority of 
their race. Crowned Cranes are decidedly subject to tuber- 
culosis, and should never be placed on ground believed to 
be infected with this disease. 
For the successful breeding of Cranes, a !arge quiet 
enclosure is desirable, containing a rush -grown piece of water 
by which the birds will make their nest. Quite a tiny pond 
