Chap. 33.] FOBEIGN BIRDS. 503 



in the rear, much in the form of a wedge, presenting a vast 

 surface to the breeze, as it impels them onward ; those that 

 follow place their necks on those that go before, while the 

 leading birds, as they become weary, fall to the rear. Storks 

 return to their former nests, and the young, in their turn, support 

 their parents when old. It is stated that at the moment of 

 the swan's death, it gives utterance to a mournful song ; 3 but 

 this is an error, in my opinion, at least I have tested the truth 

 of the story on several occasions. These birds will eat the 

 flesh of one another. 



CHAP. 33. FOEEIGN BIKDS WHICH VISIT US; THE QUAIL, THE 



GLOTTIS, THE CYCHRAMUS, AND THE OTUS. 



Having spoken of the emigration of these birds oversea and 

 land, I cannot allow myself to defer mentioning some other 

 birds of smaller size, which have the same natural instinct : 

 although in the case of those which I have already mentioned, 

 their very size and strength would almost seem to invite them 

 to such habits. The quail, which always arrives among us 

 even before the crane, is a small bird, and when it has once 

 arrived, more generally keeps to the ground than flies aloft. 

 These birds fly also in a similar manner to those I have already 

 spoken of, and not without considerable danger to mariners, 

 when they come near the surface of the earth : for it often 

 happens that they settle on the sails of a ship, and that too 

 always in the night : the consequence of which is, that the 

 vessel often sinks. These birds pursue their course along a 

 tract of country with certain resting-places. When the south 

 wind is blowing, they will not fly, as that wind is always 

 humid, and apt to weigh them down. Still, however, it is an 

 object with them to get a breeze to assist them in their flight, 

 the body being so light, and their strength so very limited : 

 hence it is that we hear them make that murmuring noise as 

 they fly, it being extorted from them by fatigue. It is for 

 this reason also, that they take to flight more especially when 



3 M. Mauduit has a learned discussion in Panckouke's Translation, vol. 

 viii., many pages in length ; in which he satisfactorily shows that this is 

 not entirely fabulous, but that the wild swan of the northern climates really 

 is possessed of a tuneful note or cadence. Of course, the statement that it 

 only sings just before its death, must be rejected as fabulous. 



