THE CRANE KIND. 247 



though much may be ascribed to a poetic mind, as in 

 early times the poet and historian were universally com- 

 bined. The crane is, however, a very social bird, and 

 remarkable for connubial fidelity and love : its favorite 

 food appears to be vegetables ; though, tfpon a failure 

 of these, they will eat snails, lizards, sea-fish, beetles, 

 and earth-worms. 



The cold Arctic region seems to be this bird's fa- 

 vourite abode, for they come down to the more south- 

 ern parts of Europe, rather as visitants than inhabit- 

 ants of the climes. Gesner assures us, that they begin 

 to quit Germany about the eleventh of September, 

 and fly towards the South by thousands at a time ; 

 and, in these journies, they often do the greatest da- 

 mage to whole fields of standing corn ; for, though 

 they ascend above the human sight, they are able to 

 distinguish all objects that lie beneath, and no sooner 

 observe a field of corn than the whole body rapidly 

 descend ; but always quit their plunder at the dawn of 

 day. 



The female, which is easily distinguished from the 

 male, by not being bald at the back of her head, never 

 lays more than a couple of eggs, of a bluish colour, 

 and like those of a goose : the young ones are very 

 soon able to fly, when the parents forsake them, and 

 they shift for themselves. They are said to live to a 

 great age ; and Aldrovanus assures us, a friend of his 

 kept one tame for upwards of forty years. Their voice 

 is the loudest of all the feathered tribe; and they were 

 formerly considered as excellent to eat. They are 

 found in every country in Europe except our own. 

 The lower class of people regard the crane with ve- 

 neration ; and, from its early or late appearance, fore- 

 tel what their labour* will produce. 



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