Grus Hirundo 97 



have seen clouds or a storm, betake themselves to 

 earth, and take rest on the ground. They have a 

 leader also and those who, disposed at each end of 

 the band, may call out, that their voice may be per- 

 ceived. The others sleep when they alight, with the 

 head hidden underneath the wing, standing alter- 

 nately on either foot. The leader gazes round him 

 with uncovered head, and by his cry gives notice of 

 whatever he perceives. 



The smaller, that is younger, Cranes are called by Pliny 

 Vipiones, as young Doves are known as Pipiones. Cranes, 

 moreover, breed in England in marshy places, I myself have 

 very often seen their pipers 1 , though some people born away 

 from England urge that this is false. 



OF THE HIRUNDO. 



XeXtSftH/, hirundo, in English a swallowe, in German eyn 

 schwalb. Among the Saxons it is eyn swale. 



ARISTOTLE. 



The Hirundo feeds on flesh, and lays eggs twice 

 a year, for the whole winter also it lies hid. The 

 way of brutes upon the whole bears a marked like- 

 ness to the life of man, and more so in the smaller 

 than the larger kinds. One may observe the under- 

 standing way which the Hirundo foremost in the 

 ranks of birds shews in the constitution and con- 

 struction of its nest. It builds it by applying mud 

 to straws, after the rule of daub and wattle work, 

 and if there ever be a scarcity of mud, it wets itself 

 and rolls itself in dust with all its feathers. It 

 moreover makes a bedding after the manner of men, 

 first laying a foundation of the harder stuff below, 

 and moderately covering the whole in proportion 

 to its size. 



1 Young pigeons are still called Pipers in England. 



