<7U A HISTORY OF 



by our sailors the buffoon-bird, and by the French the demoiselle or 

 lady. The same qualities have procured it these different appella- 

 tions from two nations, who, on more occasions than this, look upon 

 the same objects in very different lights. The peculiar gestures and 

 contortions of this bird, the proper name of which is the Numidian 

 crane, are extremely singular, and the French, who are skilled in 

 the arts of elegant gesticulation, consider all its motions as lady-like 

 and graceful. Our English sailors, however, who have not entered so 

 deeply into the dancing art, think that while thus in motion, the bird 

 cuts but a very ridiculous figure. It stoops, rises, lifts one wing, and 

 then another, turns round, sails forward, then back again ; all which 

 highly diverts our seamen ; not imagining, perhaps, that all these 

 contortions are but the awkward expression, not of the poor animal's 

 pleasures, but its fears. 



It is a ve'ry scarce bird ; the plumage is of a leaden grey ; but it is 

 distinguished by fine white feathers, consisting of long fibres, which 

 fall from the back of the head, about four inches long, while the 

 fore-part of the neck is adorned with black feathers, composed of 

 very fine, soft, and long fibres, that hang down upon the stomach, and 

 give the bird a very graceful appearance. The ancients have de- 

 scribed a buffoon bird, but there are many reasons to believe that 

 theirs is not the Numidian crane. It comes from that country from 

 whence it has taken its name. 



CHAPTER V. 



OF THE HERON AND ITS VARIETIES. 



BIRDS of the Crane, the Stork, and the Heron kind bear a very 

 strong affinity to each other, and their differences are not easily dis- 

 cernible. As for the crane and the stork, they differ rather in their 

 nature and internal conformation than in their external figure, but 

 still they may be known asunder, as well by their colour as by the 

 stork's claws, which are very peculiar, and more resembling a man's 

 nails than the claws of a bird. The heron may be distinguished from 

 both, as well by its size, which is much less, as by its bill, which in 

 proportion is much longer ; but particularly by the middle claw on 

 -each foot, which is toothed like a saw, for the better seizing and 

 holding its slippery prtsy. Should other marks fail, however, there ia 

 an anatomical distinction, in which herons differ from all other birds ; 

 which is, that they have but one caecum, and all other birds have 

 two 



Of this tribe Brisson has enumerated not less than forty-seven 

 sorts, all differing in their size, figure, and plumage, and with talents 

 adapted to their place of residence, or their peculiar pursuits. But, 

 how various soever the heron kind may be in their colours or their 



