30 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
tip. The forehead, to the middle of the crown, 
is covered with black hairy down, through which, 
if the bird be healthy, the fkin appears red; behind 
this it is nearly bare, and entirely fo for the fpace 
of about two inches on the nape of the neck, which 
is alh coloured. The fides of the head, behind the 
eyes, and the hinder part of the neck are white. 
The fpace between the bill and the eyes, the cheeks, 
and the fore part of the neck, are of a blackifh afli 
colour. The greater wing coverts are alfo black- 
ifli, and thofe fartheft from the body, with the baf- 
tard wing and quills are quite black : the reft of 
its plumage is of a fine waved light afli colour. 
From the pinion of each wing fprings an elegant 
tuft of loofe feathers, curled at the ends, which fall 
gracefully over the tail, in their flexibility, their 
pofition, and their texture, refembling the plumes 
of the Oftrich. The legs and bare part of the 
thighs are black. The Crane meafures, when ex- 
tended, from the tip of the bill to the toes, more 
than five feet in length, and weighs nearly ten 
pounds ; its gait is ered, and its figure tall and 
flender. 
This fpecies is widely fpread, and, in its migra- 
tions, performs the boldeft and moft diftant journies, 
Marking the trafts of air, the clamorous Cranes 
** Wheel their due flight, in varied lines defcried ; 
And each with out-ftretch’d neck his rank maintains 
‘‘ In marflialPd order through the ethereal void.” 
