THE CRANE KIND 165 



to the lungs, and thus enters the body a second time. The loud clan- 

 gorous sound which the bird is thus enabled to produce, is, when 

 near, almost deafening : however, it is particularly serviceable to the 

 animal itself, either during its migrations or its stay . by it the flock 

 is encouraged in their journeys ; and if, while they are feeding, which 

 is usually performed in profound silence, they are invaded on any 

 side, the bird that first perceives the danger, is sure to sound the 

 alarm, and all are speedily upon the wing. 



As they rise but heavily, they are very shy birds, and seldom let 

 the fowler approach them. Their depredations are usually made in 

 the darkest nights ; at which time they enter a field of corn, and tram- 

 ple it down, as if it had been crossed over by a regiment of soldiers. 

 On other occasions, they choose some extensive solitary marsh, where 

 they range themselves all day, as if they were in deliberation ; and 

 not having that grain which is most to their appetites, wade the 

 marshes for insects and other food, which they can procure with less 

 danger. 



Corn is their favourite food ; but there is scarce any other that 

 comes amiss to them. Redi, who opened several, found the stomach 

 of one full of the herb called dandelion; that of another was filled 

 with beans; a third had a great quantity of clover in its stomach ; 

 while that of two others was filled with earth-worms and beetles: in 

 some he found lizards and sea-fish ; in others snails, grass, and peb- 

 bles, swallowed perhaps for medical purposes. It seems, therefore, 

 that these birds are easily supplied ; and that they are noxious to corn- 

 fields but on some particular occasions. 



In general it is a peaceful bird, both in its own society, and with 

 respect to those of the forest. Though so large in appearance, a lit- 

 tle falcon pursues, and often disables it. The method is, with those 

 who are fond of hawking, to fly several hawks together against it; 

 which the crane endeavours to avoid, by flying up perpendicularly, 

 till the air becomes too thin to support it any higher. The hawk, 

 however, still bears it company ; and though less fitted for floating in 

 so thin a medium, yet, possessed of greater rapidity, it still gains the 

 ascendancy. They both often rise out of sight ; but soon the specta- 

 tor, who keeps his eye fixed above, perceives them, like two specks, 

 beginning to appear : they gather on his eye for a little space, and 

 shortly after come tumbling perpendicularly together, with great ani- 

 mosity, on the side of the hawk, and a loud screaming on that of the 

 crane. Thus driven to extremity, and unable to fly, the poor ani- 

 mal throws itself upon its back, and, in that situation, makes a most 

 desperate defence, till the sportsman coming up, generally puts in 

 end to the contest with its life. 



It was once the barbarous custom to breed up cranes to be thus 

 baited ; and young ones were taken from the nest, to be trained up 

 for this cruel diversion. It is an animal easily tamed ; and if we can 

 believe Albertus Magnus, has a particular affection for man. This 

 quality, however, was not sufficient to guard it from being made the 

 victim of his fierce amusements. The female, which is easily dis- 

 tinguished from the male, by not being bald behind as he is, never 

 lays above two eggs at a time ; being like those of a goose, but of a 

 bluish colour. The young ones are soon fit to fly and then .he p* 



