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with it frequently in Natal, and were informed that it breeds in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, although they did not 
succeed in finding nests. 
In Central South Africa Chapman met with this Crane on Lake Ngami. In the Mashoona country it was observed 
during Jameson’s expedition in September and October, and Sir John Kirk found it all the year round on the Zambesi 
and Shire rivers, and further to the north on Lake Nyasa. He informs us it is most numerous in the interior, but is 
seen in smaller numbers near the coast. Professor Barboza du Bocage also states that he received two specimens from 
the Zambesi. In German East Africa Bdhm saw it in large troops, which in their flight observed a V-shape form, near 
Tabora and the neighbourhood of Gonda. Fischer found it on the Victoria Nyanza and it has also been recorded from 
Ugogo, Tabora, the Kilima-njaro district, Sigirari, the Masai plains, Ugalla, Igonda and Lake Naiwasha. On the west 
coast, in British East Africa, it has been procured near Humbe on the Cunene River by d’Anchieta, and Andersson 
found it on the rivers Botletle, Teoughe and Okavango. 
The Cape Crowned Crane constructs Its nest in swamps or shallow lakes. The best description of its nidification 
I find In Holub and Pelzeln’s “Beitrage zur Ornithologie Siid-Afrika’s” where they state as follows: “In the southern 
“parts of the continent the breeding-season begins in the end of September or the beginning of October, whilst in the 
“Zambesi region it is a month earlier. They probably breed twice a year as a nest was found as late as the month of 
“March. The birds generally use a small island in the midst of a reed-grown swamp or pond of some extent, or form 
“one by treading down the reeds in a circumference of from 25 to 32 meters. The broken reeds and grasses are then 
“ collected in a heap and, in the midst of this circle, are formed into a floating islet at the top of which the nest itself 
“is placed. The water round the nest is carefully cleared of all vegetation so that the nest is only accessible by water. 
“The circumference of the islet which is of a conical form is about 8 meters and the diameter of the depression in which 
“the eggs are placed half a meter, the depression itself being about 16 cm.” 
Mr. J. C. Bodenstein found a nest of this Crane on the 22nd December in an extensive swamp on the banks of 
the Mooi River, 20 miles from Potchefstroom in the Transvaal. It was composed of rushes pulled up and placed in a 
conical form on the long rank grass, which falls down from its own weight and forms a carpet of vegetation often more 
than a foot thick. The nest was built where the water was about ankle-deep. Ayres found a nest of the same description 
placed in shallow water in a pool near Potchefstroom, while Buckley describes the nest that he found as composed of 
dried reeds, and floating in the way mentioned by Holub and Pelzeln. 
As to the period of incubation in a wild state I find no information, but a pair of birds of this species in con¬ 
finement in the Zoological Garden of Amsterdam sat on their eggs for twenty-eight days, at the end of which two young 
ones were hatched The little birds were tended by their parents in the same way as with other Cranes, but unfortunately 
died when five days old. As the nest is usually constructed in the midst of water, the chicks must swim from it to reach 
terra firma. This agrees with what I have observed in the case of the young of Grtis japoneftsis, bred in confinement, 
which followed their parents through water of about a yard deep, swimming like young ducks. 
Barratt informs us these birds never breed more than one pair together in the same vley, and in this respect 
they resemble the true Cranes. 
The Cape Crowned Crane is not a migratory bipd. In most places where they are found they may be seen all 
the year round. The only difference in the mode of their occurrence during the different seasons is, that after the breeding- 
season the birds assemble in small parties or sometimes even in large flocks, and frequent the open plains often in com¬ 
pany with Stanley Cranes. In the breeding-season they are found in the vleys, and in general in the neighbourhood of 
swamps, rivers and lakes in pairs only. Out of the breeding season the flocks after having spent the day feeding in the 
grassy plains, resort to shallow ponds to pass the night in the water. Sometimes they may spend the night (as observed 
by Bohm near Gonda in Central Africa) In isolated trees. As A. E. Brehm observed this same fact as regards Balearica 
pavonina on the Blue Nile I find no reason to doubt this statement, strange at it may seem. 
In its native haunts the Crowned Crane is a very wary bird, so that it can only be obtained after a very difficult 
stalk. It feeds on various insects, small reptiles, fishes, and grain and other vegetable matter. Like the Demoiselle Crane 
the Crowned Crane excels in graceful dances during which the beautiful markings of the wing become very conspicuous. 
The voice of this Crane is loud but not unmelodious, and is not badly translated by the word ^MaMm'. Holub 
describes it, when heard from a flock on the wing, as not unlike the tones of a large Aeolian harp. 
The Zoological Garden of Amsterdam received the first specimen of this Crane in 1845, and the Zoological 
Society of London in 1851. Since that time this species has generally been represented in both collections as well as in 
other Zoological Gardens on the continent and in private collections. The birds live well in confinement and become 
extremely tame, often even agressive to strangers. I recollect some years ago when staying with the late M. J. Comely 
of Tours, that a Roman Catholic priest, who had come to see the beautiful collection of living birds of my host, was 
attacked in the park by a tame bird of this species. The bird behaved so badly that the soutane of the poor man was 
