258 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



€liB €xuh 



CCORDIXG to an ancient writer, 

 tlie crane is a very slirewd bird. 

 When a company of them set 

 out on a journey, they hold a 

 council, and choose their leader and sentinels. 

 When they are on the wing, they fly very high 

 in the air. They never rest without having 

 several sentinels watching. These sentinels 

 make a peculiar cry, if any danger seems to 

 threaten the company. Those upon whom the 

 duty of watching falls stand upon one foot, 

 and hold a little stone in the other, so that, if 

 they should happen to get to sleep, the stone 

 would fall, and wake them up. The captain 

 holds his head high in the air, and gives di- 

 rection, from time to time, what is to be done. 



When they are wounded, they attack the 

 hunter or his dog with great spirit, and are 



