Although the flesh of the crane is black and tough, the Romans prised it as a delicacy ; and we find it enumerated among the dishes which used to be served at the first tables in England.
G. gigantea, Tem. Ardea gigantea, Gruel. and Lath. G. leueogeranus, Pallas, Gigantic or Siberian Crane. Snowy white, with the ten first quills black, and the bill and feet red. Stands four feet and a half high. The young of the first year are of an ochraceous hue, with the face, bill, and legs, greenish-brown ; and the old have the hind part of the neck yellowish. This species occurs in the marshy plains of Siberia, near the great rivers Ischim, Irtish, and Oby, where it finds abundance of fish, lizards, frogs, &c. It is very shy and cunning, and is not easily approached, being scared at the slightest noise During the period of incubation, however, the female assumes the most deter mined courage, and will fly in the face of men and dogs. She constructs her nest in the most inaccessible situations, among reeds, and lays two eggs, of the size of those of a goose, but ash-coloured, and spotted with brown. As the Siberian cranes retire southward in autumn, they are sup posed to winter about the Caspian Sea.
G. virgo, Tem. Ardea virgo, Lin Lath. Anthropoides, Vieill. .Mumidian Crane, or Xumidian Demoiselle. Body blue-grey, the head and tip of the primary quills black ; behind the eyes, on each side, a rccurved, elongated, and feathery white crest The feathers on the breast are long and depending. This is a very elegant species, nearly as large as the common crane, and measuring three feet three inches in length. It inhabits different parts of Asia and Africa, but particularly the latter, especially in the territory corresponding to ancient Numidia, in the environs of Tripoli, and on the shores of the Mediterra nean It is pretty common in Egypt during the inunda tion of the Nile ; and, in the month of October, it appears about Constantinople. It likewise occurs on the southern shores of the Black and of the Caspian Seas, and in the neighbourhood of Lake Baikal, affecting the vicinity of rivers and marshy soils, and subsisting on small fish, rep tiles, &c. In its varied movements, it seems to mimic
the gestures and attitudes of mankind, whence Athenrvus called it the copyist of man, and the ancients termed it the player. From the gentleness and pliancy of its manners, and the elegance of its form, it is frequently kept in me nageries, and may be trained to imitate dancing, and to per form other feats for the amusement of the spectators. On such occasions it is fond of being noticed, and struts with parade, as if susceptible of vanity. It has, moreover, been known to breed in confinement, and might possibly be naturalized to the temperate quarters of Europe ; for Buffon notices an instance of one which had been bred up at Versailles, from the egg, and which lived twenty four years. In the Crimea, the female builds her nest in the open plains, and generally in the vicinity of the salt lakes The young birds are brought to market by the Tartars, and are so susceptible of domestication, that they afterwards breed in the farm-yards.
G Pavonina, Tern. Ardea pavonina, Lin. &c. Anthro poides pavonia, Vieill. Crowned Demoiselle, Crowned Heron, Crowned African Crane, Balearic Crane, &c. Bluish, with the head black, hairy, adorned with a yellowish crest ; wings white ; tail black. This singular and beautiful species is a native of Africa, and particularly of the coast of Guinea, as far as Cape de Verd. It is of a tame and fa miliar disposition, easily reconciled to the society of man, and will sometimes mingle with poultry in a court yard. Fish, worms, insects, and vegetables, are supposed to constitute its principal food. It often sleeps on one leg, runs very fast, and not only flies well, but continues on wing for a long time together. Its cry resembles that of the common crane. In confinement, it is fond of bathing in cold water, and may be fed on rice, either raw or slightly boiled ; but live fish are its favourite re gale. The native Africans hold it in veneration, and will allow nobody to shoot it. The flesh has the reputation of being tough.