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Show 1 9 0 4 .] THE CROWNED CRANES. 2 0 1 follows the curve of tlie orbit, is characteristically white in the adult, but may be slightly suffused with pink, as in one of the specimens at the Gardens. Even in that case, however, and in dried specimens from which the colour has faded, the two areas are clearly marked off from one another. Tlie pendent neck-wattle is very large and bright red. The beak is black, and, as in all the others, the pirt of the head not occupied by the crown is covered witli a dense velvety black patch of feathers. The characteristic " crown" in all tlie species is composed of erect, bristle-like feathers, each of which has a spiral twist. The crown is golden or straw-coloured, but in this species each bristle is tipped with black, and the black often extends a considerable way down the bristles, darkening the crown. On the surface of the skull, in the temporal region, is a pair of very strong bony knobs, described by Mr, Beddard (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1904, vol. ii. P- 131). This species is widely distributed in South Africa and extends a considerable way northwards in East Africa. Reich enow (loc. cit. p. 266) gives its northern range as ceasing with the Pangani River, near Zanzibar. Mr. 0. W. Hobley, however, tells me that a Crowned Crane is abundant in Uganda, and has kindly given me the head of a specimen from Kavirondo. This undoubtedly is that of the Cape Crane. Mr. Ogilvie-Grant was kind enough to show me a fine skin from a similar locality which was also that of B. regulorum, so that a much more northern range must he associated with this species. Balearica gibbericeps Reich.- This spec.es is certainly closely allied to B. regulorum, and Reichenow in his most recent work does not regard it as more than a variety. 1 have seen neither living examples nor skins, but reproduce here (text-fig. 38, p. 202), by Dr. Reichenow's kind permission, the figure of the head published in his work ‘ Deutsch-Ost-Afrika,' Vogel, p. 47. The neck-wattle is large as in the species just described, and the general coloration of the head, neck, and back is similar. The striking difference is the extension forwards and upwards of the bare cheek-patch on either side, so as to invade the black velvety patch in a rounded knob like process. Various localities are given for this species in the region extending northwards from the Pangani River towards Uganda, but some of these seem ascribed to it on the supposition that the Cape Crowned Crane does not extend northwards of the Pangani. It appears, however, that the two species overlap, and further specimens of B. gibbericeps and information about its exact distribution and relation to B. regulorum are much to be desired. It is with the hope of obtaining these that I have copied Reichenow's figure and borrowed from his description. Balearicapcivonina (L.). The West-African Crowned Crane.- I have seen seven living specimens and several skins of this species. Five of the living specimens are at present in the Gardens- three brought from Nigeria by Lt.-Col. Jackson, one |