GRUS, a genus of birds belonging to the family Gruidm, in which are the genera Grus and An thropoides. The words Crane, Grus, Geranos, with the Hindustani Saras, Kakarra, Karrach, etc., all have reference to the 10-id -derurnpeting voices of the birds in question, which form a very distinct group by themselves, that should be confounded with no other. The so-called gigantic crane or adjutant is not a crane, and can merely clatter its mandibles together. The word Crane is often used vaguely.
Crus Antlgone, Linn., Saras, Sarhans.
G. torquata, Vieillot. I G. oriental's, Pallas.
The Barns is found throughout the greater part of India and Burma. It breeds on some island or spot nearly surrounded by water. Its fine trumpet call, uttered when alarmed or on the wing, can be heard a couple of miles away. In the territories of HoMar it is almost venerated. It breeds south of the Himalaya, and birds too young to ily are occasionally brought for sale to Calcutta. Turner, describing the lake Ramtchu, says prodigious numbers of the saras are seen here at certain seasons of the year. Instances are known of the saras breeding in captivity. A pair was allowed the range of a large walled garden (pro tected from jackals), containing shallow inundated enclosures for the growth of rice. Their nest was commenced under water, and raised for some inches above the surface ; the eggs are two in number, about 3i inches long by 21 inches broad, of a bluish-white, with a few distantly-placed rufous specks and blotches.
Grua Australasiana, Gong is the native com panion of the Australian colonist; has more of the aspect of G. vulgaris, Pallas, but is considerably
larger. It is only found in N. Australia and N.S. Wales. It evinces great aptitude for domestica tion, and gets its name native companion from the docility mid, which it accommodates itself to the society of man.
Grits Cinerea, Bechstein.
G. antigone, Sykes. Ardea grus, Linn.
Common crane, . ENG. I Kalam, . . . Mum. Kalang, . . . HIND. Kulangi, TEL The crane of Europe, Asia, N. Africa, is migra tory; now rare in Britain. In Scandinavia it usually breeds in extended morasses, far away from the haunts of men. It makes its nest, c,onsisting of stalks of plants and the like, on a tussock, and often amongst willow and other bushes. The female lays two eggs. The European crane is equal to any in the majesty of its gait, and even in the beauty of its plumage, if we except the Manchurian. It is the most widely distributed of the whole family ; visits India in numerous flocks durin,g the cold weather. In the Dekhan and Central India it is generally seen in parties of from eight to twenty, but sometimes in much larger numbers, especially in the N.W. Provinces. It feeds chiefly on grain, and cotnmits great havoc in the wheat-fields and rice-fields.
Grus Leucogeranos, Pallas, is the large white crane ; visits several parts of N.W. India, and the interior of the Himalayas in the winter season.
Grus Monacha, Temminck, is from N.E. Asia and Japan, as also la Grus vipio, the white-necked crane, an ornamental species.—Blyth.