250 THE BALEARIC CRANE. 



horn which grows out of the forehead, bending forward 

 like the unicorn's, which fabulous authors have so fre- 

 quently described : this horn is about the thickness of 

 a crow's quill, and in colour of an ivory white : at the 

 second joint of the fore part of each wing, spring two 

 straight triangular spurs, the one an inch, the other 

 somewhat less, in length : the claws are likewise long 

 and sharp ; and they are continually making a loud un- 

 pleasant cry, as if repeating the word Vyhoo. The bill 

 of the anhima is about two inches long, and, in appear- 

 ance, resembles jet. The male and female are very much 

 attached ; and the survivor of either never leaves ite 

 companion if it dies, but remains by its side until regret 

 and sorrow soon puts an end to its miserable life. 



The Numidian crane must not be omitted in the his- 

 tory of birds of this race ; the English sailors call it the 

 Buffoon bird; but by the French it is termed Demoiselle, 

 as they conceive that all its motions are lady-like, and 

 full of grace. The attitudes of this bird are both ridi- 

 culous and extraordinary, and afford our sailors much 

 pleasure and delight ; it first stoops, then rises ; lifts up 

 one wing, then the other ; sails forward, then returns ; 

 and, in short, turns into a variety of positions which 

 may either arise frompleasure or fear. 



The Numidian crane is a very scarce bird ; the plu- 

 mage of it is leaden-grey; but, from the back of the 

 head, there fall beautiful white feathers, about four inches 

 in length ; while the fore part of the neck is adorned 

 with black ones, that gracefully flow below the breast. 



OF THE HERON AND ITS VARIETIES. 



Birds of the crane, the stork, and the heron kind, 

 bear so strong an affinity to each other, that their dif- 

 ference is not easily discerned ; and, of the latter, 



