THE CRANE KIND. 305 



throws itself upon its back, and in that situation 

 makes a most desperate defence, till the sports- 

 man coming up, generally puts an 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, how- 

 ever, was not sufficient to guard it from being 

 made the victim of his fierce amusements. The 

 female, which is easily distinguished 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 the parents for- 

 sake 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 un- 

 fledged, they run with such swiftness that a man 

 cannot easily overtake them. We are told, that 

 as they grow old their plumage becomes darker j 

 and, as a proof of their longevity, Aldrovandus 

 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 regard. 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 a heinous 



VOL. iv. u 



