HISTORY OF BIRDS 

 BOOK VI. 



OF BIRDS OF THE CRANE KIND. 



CHAP. I. 



OF BIRDS OF THE CRANE KIND IN GENERAL,. 



THE progressions of Nature from one class of 

 beings to another, are always by slow and al- 

 most imperceptible degrees. She has peopled 

 the woods and the fields with a variety of the 

 most beautiful birds ; and, to leave no part of 

 her extensive territories untenanted, she has 

 stocked the waters with its feathered inhabi- 

 tants also : she has taken the same care in 

 providing for the wants of her animals in this 

 element, as she has done with respect to those 

 of the other; she has used as much precaution 

 to render water-fowl fit for swimming, as she 

 did in forming land-fowl for flight ; she has 

 defended their feathers with a natural oil, and 

 united their toes by a webbed membrane : by 

 which contrivances they have at once security 

 and motion. But between the classes of land- 

 birds that shun the water, and of water fowl 

 that are made for swimming and living on it, 

 she has formed a very numerous tribe of birds, 

 that seem to partake of a middle nature: that, 

 with divided toes, seemingly fitted to live upon 

 land, are at the same time furnished with ap- 

 petites that chiefly attach them to the waters. 

 These can properly be called neither land- 

 birds nor water-fowl, as they provide all their 

 sustenance from watery places, and yet are 

 unqualified to seek it in those depths where it 

 is often found in greatest plenty. 1 



This class of birds, of the crane kind, are 

 to be distinguished from others rather by their 

 appetites than their conformation. Yet even 

 in this respect they seem to be sufficiently dis- 

 criminated by nature : as they are to live 

 among the waters, yet are incapable of swim- 



1 The term waders h jiuw ai.plicd to this description 

 of birds. 



ming in them, most of them have long legs, 

 fitted for wading in shallow waters, or long 

 bills proper for grouping in them. 



Every bird of this kind, habituated to mar- 

 shy places, may be known, if not by the length 

 of its legs, at least by the scaly surface of 

 them. Those who have observed the legs of 

 a snipe or a woodcock, will easily perceive 

 my meaning ; and how different the surface 

 of the skin that covers them is from that of the 

 pigeon or the partridge. Most, birds of this 

 kind also, are bare of feathers half way up the 

 thigh ; at least, in all of them, above the knee. 

 Their long habits of wading in the waters, 

 and having their legs continually in moisture, 

 prevents the growth of feathers on those parts ; 

 so that there is a surprising difference between 

 the legs of a crane, naked of feathers almost 

 up to the body, and the falcon, booted almost 

 to the very toes. 



The bill is also very distinguishable in most 

 of this class. It is, in general, longer than 

 that of other birds, and in some finely fluted 

 on every side ; while at the point it is posses, 

 sed of extreme sensibility, and furnished with 

 nerves, for the better feeling their food at the 

 bottom of marshes, where it cannot be seen. 

 Some birds of this class are thus fitted with 

 every convenience ; they have long legs, for 

 wading ; long necks, for stooping ; long bills, 

 for searching ; and nervous points, for feeling. 

 Others are not so amply provided for ; as some 

 have long bills, but legs of no great length ; 

 and others have long necks, but very short 

 legs. It is a rule which universally holds, 

 that where the bird's legs are long, the neck 

 is also long in proportion. It would indeed 

 be an incura.ble defect in the bird's conforma. 

 tion, to be lifted upon stilts above its food, 

 without being furnished with an instrument to 

 reach it. 



If we consider the natural power of this 



