94 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



them an extraordinary symbolism. The Greeks believed 

 that during their winter absence the cranes were in con- 

 stant battle with the Pygmies — 'That small infantry 

 warred on by cranes," as Milton characterized those 

 diminutive, but pugnacious folks who lived no one knew 

 exactly where, but certainly at the ends of the earth. 

 'The cranes travel," Aristotle records, "from Scythia to 

 the marshes in the higher parts of Egypt from which the 

 Nile originates. This is the place where the Pygmies 

 dwell ; and this is no fable, for there is really, it is said, 

 a race of dwarfs, both men and horses, which lead the 

 life of troglodytes." 



When the shrill clouds of Cranes do give alarmes, 

 The valiant Pigmy stands unto his armes: 

 Straight, too weak for the Thracian bird, he's swept, 

 And through the eye in crooked tallons rapt. 48 



But this is only one item in the crane's list of wonders. 

 When this bird migrates it always flies against the wind, 

 according to ancient bird-minders, and carries a 

 swallowed stone as ballast so that it may not be swept out 

 of its course by a change of wind; and this stone when 

 it is vomited up is useful as a touchstone for gold. Aris- 

 totle had heard of this ballasting precaution, and ex- 

 pressly denies it, but he says nothing about other stones 

 associated with the history of the bird, perhaps because 

 they had not been discovered in his day. The sagacious 

 cranes were also said to post sentinels, while halting at 

 night, and to insure their necessary vigilance these senti- 

 nels were required to stand on one foot, and to hold in 

 the other, uplifted one a large stone. Should one of 

 these sentinel-birds drowse the stone would drop and by 

 its noise awaken the sleepy sentry. This explains the 

 fact that in British heraldry the crane is always repre- 



