BOOK VI. 



OF BIRDS OF THE CRANE KIND. 



CHAP. I. 



OF BIRDS OF THE CRANE KIND IN GENERAL. 



The progressions of Nature from one class of beings to another, 

 are always by slow and almost imperceptible degrees. She has 

 peopled the woods and the fields with a variety of the most 

 beautiful birds ; and, to leave no part of her extensive territories 

 untenanted, she has stocked the waters with its feathered in- 

 habitants also : she has taken the same care in providing for the 

 wants of her animals in this element, as she has done with re- 

 spect to those of the other ; she has used as much precaution 

 to render water-fowl fit for swimming, as she did in forming 

 land-fowl for flight ; she has defended their feathers with a 

 natural oil, and united their toes by a webbed membrane : by 

 which contrivances they have at once .=ecurity and motion. But 

 between the classes of land-birds that shun the water, and of 

 water-fowl that are made for swimming and living on it, she has 

 formed a very numerous tribe of birds, that seem to partake of a 

 middle nature ; that, with divided toes, seemingly fitted to live 

 upon land, are at the same time furnished with appetites that 

 chiefly attach them to the waters. These can properly be called 

 neither land-birds nor water-fowl, as they provide all their sus- 

 tenance from watery places, and yet are unqnalifiod to seek it in 

 those depths where it is often found in greatest plenty.* 



This class of birds, of the crane kind, are to be distinguished 



* llift tenn waiiera is now applied to this description of birds. Tlic 

 jstrirhos, thoiigli differing considerably from otlicr families, belong properly 

 to tliis oriliT. 



UI. 2 C 



