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Black-crowned crane, Balearica regulorum, E57.152

Physical Description

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.

Research Notes

West Africa/sub-Sahara. Ghana?

Partial bird skin/leather with attached feathers.

? NOTE 1: Original documentation of Sarah Brodie "Africa Collection File" refers to "See reg: mention of chiefs horn, with ....crest of crane (151-53) Baleanico requlorum' (154)".

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 of Sarah Brodie "Africa Collection File" refers to "See reg: mention of chiefs horn, with ....crest of crane (151-53) Baleanico requlorum' (154)". ?

Approx. 160mm from end to end. —Joel A Vanderburg

Provenance

Collected by: G Ulrich
Locality:

Measurements

Maximum dimensions (H x W x D): 155 x 120 x 10mm

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