eastern frontier of the colony, than about the western extremity,
perhaps owing to the latter being more settled and cultivated, as it
is found in considerable numbers to the north and north-west.
Mr. Arnot sent a magnificent egg of this species, procured in
Mahura s country. It is of a dull pale brown tinged with green,
and obscurely marked with faint reddish brown, confused blotches
chiefly at the obtuse end, with here and there a dark mark standing
out prominently. Axis, 3" 6'" ; diam., 2" 5"'.
At East London, Mr. Rickard informs us, it is not very common
in the immediate neighbourhood, but becomes more numerous
towards the Kei. It is called “ Mohimo.” Hear King william stown,
Captain Trevelyan says, it is not uncommon. Messrs. Butler and
Eeilden and Capt. Reid state that in Natal they frequently observed
this Crane in the more open veldt, generally not far from a “ vley ”
or marshy spot. It appears to breed in the neighbourhood of
Newcastle, though no nests were found. Reid met with a family
party in the Ingagane Drift in June and July. It is called “Mahem”
by the colonists, from their note; but Captain Reid says that he
was squatting in a vley within ten yards of a party of them for a
quarter of an hour, and after listening to their notes all this time,
he could only make these out to resemble “ aan-aan—nor-aan,”
uttered very softly and plaintively. From the Transvaal Mr. Ayres
writes “ These handsome Cranes are generally, though sparsely,
distributed over the country, and have much the same habits as the
Stanley Cranes, with which they occasionally associate, as flocks of
each may be seen feeding together on the banks of the Vaal River
below Bloemhof.” The nest was found in an extensive swamp on
the banks of the Mboi River, about twenty miles from Potchefstroom,
and was composed of rushes pulled and placed in a conical form on
the rank long grass, which fell over from its own weight and formed
a thick carpet of vegetation, often- more than a foot thick; the rest
was built where the water was about ankle deep, and contained two
eggs only.
Mr. F. A. Barratt gives the following note :—“ In the district of
Potchefstroom this bird is not at all uncommon. I have seen them
between Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, and Pretoria. In the winter
they may be seen half-a-dozen together; but in the time of nidifi-
cation they are only found in pairs. I have never seen two pairs
breeding together in the same vley, but always sbme distance apart;
and they can be heard a long way off, calling out ‘ mahem ’ with a
delightful mellow note. At the present time I have four living,
which I brought over from the Orange Free State and Transvaal.
They all, with the exception of the young one, have the white
cheek; I have seen birds from the western coast with it red; but
I have never seen them so from the Transvaal. . All I have shot,
heard of, or seen, have had the cheek white. The eggs I have
always found to be white with a bluish cast; some state, however,
that they are spotted; but I have never found them so. I have
seen these birds a few miles north of Pretoria.”
It was observed during Mr. Jameson’s expedition in the Mashoona
country in September and October, and Professor Barboza du
Bocage states that he has received two specimens from the Zambesi.
Mr. Andersson writes “ I have never observed this handsome bird
in Great Namaqua or Damara Land; but I have met with it at Lake
N’gami, and also on the rivers Botletle, Teoughe, and Okavango. In
Ondonga it is very common during the dry season, but leaves the
open plains when the wet season returns. It is met with singly or
in pairs, and sometimes in small flocks, and presents a very graceful
appearance as it stalks leisurely about in search of its food, which
consists of various insects, of the smaller reptiles, and, it is said, of
fish also.”
Senor Anchieta has only procured the species at Humbe on the
Cunene River.
The eggs were found in the Transvaal by Mr. T. E. Buckley, who
describes them as white, slightly tinged with blue, and Canon
Tristram also describes the egg as white, with a green lining
membrane, its texture glossy, and its size about that of the egg of
a Goose.
The Messrs. R. B. and J. D. S. Woodward in the “ Zoologist”
(vol. 33, p. 4509) record the occurrence of the Demoiselle Crane
(Anthropoides virgo) in Natal, where it is said to be the commonest
of the Cranes in that colony. The bird intended is doubtless the
present species, as the name “ Kafir Crane” is given as belonging
to it, but the description appears to suit the Demoiselle, and was
perhaps taken from some book. The latters species inhabit South-
Eastern Europe and India.
Upper parts, leaden-grey; lightest on the hackle-shaped feathers
of the throat; top of the head, velvety black ; chin black; back of