46 
Egg. Figured of the natural size plate XVIII n°. 3 from a specimen in the British Museum collected by Layard. 
Hab. South Africa; on the west coast north to Benguella and the Congo, on the east coast north to Shoa. 
The first description of this bird was published in 1785 by Latham, who also gave a tolerably good figure of it. 
He tells us that the original of his plate was kept alive in the Company’s Gardens at the Cape of Good Hope, and that it 
was not considered as a common bird there. In 1834 Vieillot also figured this Crane from a living example kept in the 
menagerie of the King of France. But the first really good representation of it was that of Gray and Mitchell in their 
‘Genera of Birds’ published in 1845. On the whole this Crane has continued to maintain the reputation, with which it 
was presented to the European naturalists on its discovery, as being a rare bird and one about which information is 
very scarce. 
The Wattled Crane is sparsely distributed, being generally met with in pairs, and sometimes in the cold season 
in small flocks, in suitable places in South Africa. On the west coast it has been recorded by Monteiro as far north as 
the interior of Benguella and this statement is in a way confirmed by the receipt of a pair of living birds from Banana, 
at the mouth of the Congo, by the Zoological Society of Amsterdam, in 1894. On the eastern side of Africa, Ruppell 
records its occurence as far north as Shoa and Peters found it in Mozambique, while Bohm met with it in small troops 
on the Wualaba River in German East Africa. Livingstone also mentions a “blue crane with white neck”, which probably 
refers to this species. Further south the Wattled Crane was found by Philipp on the Vaal River, and by Holub on 
the Fish River near Cradock. Andersson, as recorded by Gurney, met with it sparingly in Damara-land during the rainy 
season, also on the rivers Okavango, Tioge and Drongo, and on Lake Ngami. 
On the mode of breeding of this Crane our information is again rather incomplete. Layard tells us that “a single 
“pair take up their haunt and maintain it for years, breeding constantly in the same nest which is repaired as occasion 
“requires”. He continues “I had the pleasure of watching a pair through my binoculars engaged in this proceeding. Both 
“the birds contributed to the work, stopping now and then to do a little courting, like an ordinary sparrow or canary, 
“but surely undignified in so grave a bird! It suggested to me the possibility of an Archbishop or a Lord-Chancellor 
“making love! Still ‘something came of it’, for my friend Hugo took two glorious eggs out of that selfsame nest, and 
“presented them to me, and they now form part of the treasures of the South African Museum”. 
Mr. Philipp found a nest of this species in Natal. It was placed in a very large lagoon near the Vaal River, and 
was about five feet in diameter and of a conical form. It was composed of rushes pulled up by the roots, and was placed 
in water about five feet deep; the eggs being raised well out of the water. The eggs, which were two in number, were 
taken, and were found to be on the point of being hatched. They now form part of the collection of Mr. Philip Crowley 
of Waddon House, Croydon. As to the habits of the parents and their chicks I have not been able to find any special 
information. 
This Crane is not a migratory bird, and is usually found in the same locality all the year round. In the cold 
season however, they sometimes gather together in small troops of about thirty individuals, and then visit places in which 
they are not usually seen in the breeding season. When flying together in flocks they form the letter V like other Cranes. 
Perhaps these gatherings are principally formed of immature birds which have been driven away by their parents. It is 
probable also that unusually dry seasons have something to do with it. These Cranes are very partial to water and are 
much less terrestrial In their habits than the Stanley Crane. They feed on grain and other vegetable, as well as animal 
food which they procure in the swamps and lakes. 
In localities where they are not disturbed they get tolerably tame, but if shot at or pursued they become as wild 
and watchful as any of the family. 
The Zoological Society of London received the first example of this species In 1861, and the Amsterdam Zoolo¬ 
gical Garden in 1869, but a specimen is stated to have been exhibited in France in the ‘Kings Garden’ at the begin¬ 
ning of this century. 
In recent years this Crane has been occasionally brought over to Europe, but never In any great number, so that 
it must always be considered as a rarity as well in Zoological Gardens as in private collections. 
The Wattled Crane is a very playful bird in captivity and dances and bows down round its keeper in a wonderful 
way. Monteiro describes a tame specimen kept by a trader at Egito, which used to play for hours with a young donkey. 
The Crane would run at the donkey and flap its wings in the latter’s face till it started after the Crane for a race. 
When they set off the Crane would keep just a little ahead and only take to flight when hard pressed, on seeing which 
the donkey would generally give a loud bray of disappointment. At other times the Crane would chase the donkey, and 
it was very comical to see the perfect understanding that seemed to exist between them, and their evident enjoyment of 
play and fun. 
