CRANE, Grus, a genus of birds of the order grallatores, the type of the family gruidw. This family differs from herons, bitterns, storks, etc., in having the hind-toe placed higher on the leg than the front ones. It consists also of birds less addicted to marshy places, and which feed not only on animal, but, to a considerable extent, on vegetable food. They are all large birds, long legged,long necked and of powerful wing, although their wings are rounded and not elongated; some of them performing great migrations, and flying at a prodigious height in the air. One of these is the COMMON 0. (G. einerea), which breeds in the northern parts of Europe and Asia, retiring in win ter to tropical or sub-tropical regions. Flocks of cranes periodically pass over the southern and central countries of Europe, uttering their loud harsh cries in the air, and occasionally alighting to seek food iu fields or marshes. The C., when standing, is about 4 ft. in height; the prevailing color is ash-gray, the face and throat nearly black, the wing primaries black. The tertial feathers of the wings are elongated, reaching beyond the ends of the primaries, and their webs are unconnected; they are varied and tipped with bluish-black, and are the well-known plumes once much used hi ornamental head-dresses. The visits of the C. to Britain are now very rare, although in former
times they were comparatively frequent. It feeds on roots, seeds, etc., 'as well as on worms, insects, reptiles, and even sonic of the smallest quadrupeds. It is much esteemed for the table.—There are several other species of crane. The WitoomNo C. (0. Ameri cana) is considerably larger than the common C., which it otherwise much resembles except in color; its plumage, in its adult state, is pure white, the tips of the wings black. It spends the winter in the southern parts of North America. In summer it migrates far northwards, but rather in the interior than the eastern parts of the conti nent.—To the C. family belong also the demoiselles (q.v.), with which, rather than with the true cranes, the Balearic cranes or Balearicans are ranked.—Cranes use their bill as a dagger, and when wounded are dangerous to the eyes of a rash assailant.