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Grus antigone, Linne.
VornaCUlar Names—[Sarus, passim; Sirhans, (Hindee): Gyo-EVa Arakan-
Gyo-gya, Jo-ja, Pegu.]
HE Sarus is found, in suitable localities, throughout the
Central Provinces (including Bustar and the other
Feudatory States), the Madras Presidency, north of
the Godavari, (and perhaps between the Kistna and
Godavari), Chota Nagpur, Lower Bengal, the North-
Western Provinces and Oudh, Rajputana (except
the more western portions), Cutch, Kathiawar, the
eastern portions of Sind and the Punjab, and in the
Bombay Presidency north of the Nerbudda, and along the
Coast, at any rate, as far south as the Tapti, and the southern
talukas of the Surat District. But Mr. Mulock, the Collector
of Tanna, a good sportsman who knows the district thoroughly,
says that he has never once met with the Sarus in that district,
although as it is found (but even there as a rare visitor) in the
adjoining Surat Talukas, it may, occasionally, occur in the Tanna
Collectorate also. In Khandesh Major Probyn, who has been
stationed in that district for years, says that he has only thrice
seen it, so that there also it can only be a very rare straggler.
As regards the Deccan, Mr. J. Davidson, C.S., tells me that he
has " never seen or heard of its being found there."
Eastwards it extends far up into the valley of Assam, being
common in Darrang, and occurring, though more sparingly, in
Lakhimpur.
Again it occurs in Arakan, in Pegu, and in those few portions
of Tenasserim where there are wide plains, as in the valleys of
the Attaran and the Sitang.
Mr. Oates remarks that it is " common and a constant resident
throughout the flat, swampy plains of Lower Pegu ; it breeds
during July, August and September. The bird is becoming
less common every year, and will probably be entirely driven
away in a few years."*
* Mr. Davis also writes :—
"The Sarus is common on the extensive swampy plains, between the mouths
of the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers, but they are most numerous on the Thatone
plain opposite the village of Theinzeik,"
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