312 THE GIGANTIC CRANE. 



with them. Besides the Jews, other ancient nations held 

 these birds in veneration. A law among the Greeks, obliging 

 children to support their parents, even received its name from 

 a reference to these birds, TlsAueyixo; vo/xog. By the Romans 

 it was called the pious bird, and was also an emblem on the 

 medals of such Roman princes as merited the title of Pius. 

 Of their attachment towards each other, we can give another 

 instance, which occurred in this country. 



A gentleman had for some years been possessed of two 

 common Cranes ; one of them at length died, and the survivor 

 became disconsolate. He was apparently following his com- 

 panion, when his master introduced a large looking-glass into 

 the aviary. The bird no sooner beheld his reflected image, 

 than he fancied she for whom he mourned had returned to 

 him ; he placed himself close to the mirror, plumed his 

 feathers, and showed every sign of happiness. The scheme 

 answered completely : the Crane recovered his health and 

 spirits, passed almost all his time before the looking-glass, 

 and lived many years after, dying at length of an accidental 

 injury. 



Of this tribe, there is one which, from its extraordinary 

 size, shape, and appearance, deserves to be particularly noticed. 

 It is called the Gigantic Crane (Ardea argila), a native of th 3 

 East Indies, and was the first of birds to meet the eye of 

 Bishop Heber, on his landing in India. " In the morning, 

 as the day broke," says he, " we were much struck by the 

 singular spectacle before us. Besides the usual apparatus of 

 a place of arms, the walks, roofs, and ramparts of the fort 

 swarmed with gigantic birds, the Hurgila, larger than the 

 largest Turkey, and twice as tall as the Heron, wliich, in some 

 respects, they much resemble, except that they have a largo 

 blue and red pouch under the lower bill, in which, we were told, 

 they keep such food as they cannot eat at the moment. These 

 birds share with the Jackals, who enter the fort through the 

 drains, the post of scavenger; but, unlike them, instead of 

 shunning mankind day and night, they lounge about with 

 perfect fearlessness all day long, and almost jostled us from 

 our paths." The bishop's information, however, respecting 



