1G6 A HISTORY OF 



rents forsake them to shift for themselves ; but before this time, they 

 are led forth to the places where their food is most easily found. 

 Though yet unfledged, they run with such swiftness that a man cai.- 

 not easily overtake them. We are told, that as they grow ofd, their 

 plumage becomes darker ; and, as a proof of their longevity, Aldrovun- 

 dus assures us, that 'a friend of his kept one tame for above forty 

 years. 



Whatever may have been the disposition of the great, the vulgar 

 of every country, to this day, bear the crane a compassionate re- 

 gard. It is possible the ancient prejudices in its favour, which once 

 having been planted, are eradicated but slowly, may still continue to 

 operate. In some countries, it is considered as an heinous offence 

 to kill a crane ; and though the legislator declines to punish, yet the 

 people do not fail to resent the injury. The crane, they, in some 

 measure, consider as the prophet of the season ; upon its approach or 

 delay they regulate the periods of their ural economy. If their fa- 

 vourite bird comes early in the season, they expect a plentiful sum- 

 mer ; if he is slow in his visits, they then prepare for an unfavourable 

 spring. Whatever wisdom there may be in despising the prejudice* 

 of the vulgar, there is but little in condemning them. They have 

 generally had their origin in good motives ; and it should never be our 

 endeavours to suppress any tender emotions of friendship or pity, in 

 those hard breasts that are, in general, unsusceptible of either. 



CHAPTER III 



THE STORK. 



If we regard the Stork externally only, we shall be very apt U 

 confound it with the crane. It is of the same size; it has the same 

 formation as to the bill, neck, legs, and body, except that it is some- 

 thing more corpulent. Its differences are but very slight ; such as the 

 colour, which, in the crane, is ash and black, but in the stork, is 

 white and brown. The nails of the toes of the stork also are very 

 peculiar ; not being clawed like those of other birds, but flat like the 

 nails of man. 



These, however, are but very slight differences ; and its true dis- 

 tinctions are to be taken rather from its manners than its form. The 

 crane has a loud piercing voice ; the stork is silent, and produces no 

 other noise than the clacking of its under-chap against the upper . 

 the crane has a strange convolution of the windpipe through the 

 breast-bone ; the stork's is formed in the usual manner : the crane 

 feeds mostly upon vegetables and grain ; the stork preys entirely upon 

 frogs, fishes, birds, and serpents : the crane avoids towns and popu- 

 lous places ; the stork lives always in or near them : the crane lays 

 but two eggs, and the stork generally four. These are distinctions 



