Black-crowned crane, Balearica regulorum, E57.153

Roughly tanned/dried piece of bird skin. Appears to be the crest and forehead feathers of Gray Crowned Crane or possibly Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina). Crest of numerous 'long' feather spines alternating on each the colours of light yellow/tan to darker brown. The tips in some instances showing a black end. Crest is somewhat fan shaped. At the base of crest (presumably the forehead) is a patch of what appears to be black fur, but is in fact a patch of dozens of closely spaced very short, very small very black feathers. Likewise a ridge of black but slightly longer black feathers runs from either side of the base of the crest. This piece of leather with feathers has apparently been cut and stored in such a fashion as to be flat rather than its original shape on the skull of the bird.

Roughly tanned/dried piece of bird skin. Appears to be the crest and forehead feathers of Gray Crowned Crane or possibly Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina). Crest of numerous 'long' feather spines alternating on each the colours of light yellow/tan to darker brown. The tips in some instances showing a black end. Crest is somewhat fan shaped. At the base of crest (presumably the forehead) is a patch of what appears to be black fur, but is in fact a patch of dozens of closely spaced very short, very small very black feathers. Likewise a ridge of black but slightly longer black feathers runs from either side of the base of the crest. This piece of leather with feathers has apparently been cut and stored in such a fashion as to be flat rather than its original shape on the skull of the bird. General appearance is has been little handled and in relatively good condition. NOTE 1: Original documentation refers to ("...Horns belonging to chief with feathers from crest of crowned crane ...". This item contains no "horns". NOTE2: Storage box had this labelled as "E57.163" though item is labelled as "E57.153". This error has now been corrected, i.e. "163" scratched, and replaced with "153". —Joel A Vanderburg

Collected by G Ulrich