( 45 ) 
^he Greater Indian Crane. 
-THIS is a very large and ftately Bird, I believe bigger than the 
1 common Crane, and hath a longer Bill in Proportion ; it wa ks 
with a- very grave and folemn Air ; its Height, as it ftands walks, 
without extending the Neck greatly, is about five Feet. 
has defcrib’d an Indian Crane which feems to be much lefs than , 
and a quite different Bird ; fo I thought the Greater Indian Crane mi Jit 
be a Name proper enough for this Bird ; it fed on Barley and other Gram 
bh by reaUof .he Length and Sha^tnefi of d.e B.11, 
gather the Grain into its Mouth without jerking bacc its Head pretty 
quick, and catching the Grain into its Mouth after it had 
Point of its Bill ; the Bill is long and pretty thick toward tne Head, 
endincL in a fharp Point, of a greenifh Yellow-colour, dusky at the 
Tip having on each Side an oblong Noftril pretty near Ae Middle, 
tho^’ nearer ?he Head than the Point ; the Eyes are of a bright hazel or 
redifh Colour; the Head, and a fmall Part of the Neck, are cover d 
with a bare Skin, of a fine red Colour ; about the Bafe of the ^dl, under 
the Chin, and all round the beginning of the Neck, or hinder Pait 
the Head, it is thin fet with fine black hair-like Feathers, a fmall Space 
of the Neck remaining quite bare below it ; the Crown of the Head, 
and two Spots by the Ears are White, and bare of Feathers ; the Neck 
is very long, cover’d in the upper Part with white Feathers, which 
Gradually bSome Afli-colour towards its Bottom ; the Neck feathers 
ate not fo long and loofe as in Herons ; the whole Body, Win^ and Tail, 
;;cait ffe m?ater or outer Quills of the Wings, are Alh-colour, fome- 
thini lighte'r on the Breaft than on the Back and V/ings; the 
Sack, and extend themfelves, when the Wings are clofed, of a moft 
equal Length with the Tail ; the Legs are very long and bare of Feathci . 
for a 200d"Space above the Knees; it hath three does ftanding forward, 
rfa Sale Length, and a fmall bac^oe; both Leg. and beet arc 
of a red Colour like thofe of Pigeons, the Claws black. 
his Bird I drew from the Life a. Sir darks Wager s who afterwards _ 
prefented it to Dr. Mead. It was brought from the Eafi Indies. 
