378 KEEPS THE POULTRY IN ORDER. 



the most perfect indifference, and never made an attempt 

 either to follow those that retreated, or to escape itself. 



" On the great morass that surrounds the celebrated 

 mineral spring of Porla, in the province of Nerike," that 

 gentleman proceeds, " to which cranes annually resort to 

 breed, two young ones, male and female, were some years 

 ago captured. They were carried from thence to the estate 

 of Vissbo to be reared. Owing to their incessant and shrill 

 cries they were at first exceedingly annoying; but subse- 

 quently, as they grew up, their cries ceased altogether. The 

 male, whilst attempting to strike with his bill at a bull that 

 came too near to him, was killed by the animal, which kicked 

 out and broke the bird's legs. But the female attained to 

 maturity, and became remarkably large. During the follow- 

 ing summer she accompanied the hens and ducks wherever 

 they went. These, nevertheless, feared her greatly, more 

 especially during meal-times, because she, the better to obtain 

 access to the grain that was cast to them, would place her 

 bill and head under their bellies, and, with a jerk, toss 

 them high up into the air. At breakfast-time she would 

 keep a strict watch at the kitchen- door for the return of 

 those boys that had bread, or bread-and-butter in their 

 hands. With long strides she would keep company with 

 them, and by pulling at the bright buttons of their clothes, 

 she not unfrequently so bewildered them, as to cause them to 

 drop the food. In this case she would at once divide the 

 bread by a blow or two with her strong bill, and swallow it 

 so hurriedly, and in such large pieces, that great balls of it 

 might be seen the whole length of her slender neck whilst 

 descending into the stomach. 



" She was very fond of finding her way into the kitchen 



