306 HISTORY Ol' 



Our own country is free from their visits ; not but that they 

 were formerly known in this island, and held in great estima- 

 tion for the delicacy of their flesh ; there was even a penalty 

 upon such as destroyed their eggs ; but, at present, they nes'er 

 go so far out of their way. * Cultivation and populousness go 

 hand in hand ; and though our fields may offer them a greater 

 plenty, yet it is so guarded that the birds find the venture greater 

 than the enjoyment ; and probably we are much better off by their 

 absence than their company. Whatever their flesh might once 

 have been, when, as Plutarch tells us, cranes were blinded and 

 kept in coops, to be fattened for the tables of the great in Rome ; 

 or, as they were brought up, stuffed with mint and rue, to the 

 tables of our nobles at home ; at present, they are considered all 

 over Europe as wretched eating. The flesh is fibrous and dry, 

 requiring much preparation to make it palatable; and even 

 after every art, it is fit only for the stomachs of strong and la- 

 bouring people. 



The cold Arctic region seems to be this bird's favourite abode. 

 They come down in the more southern parts of Europe, rather 

 as visitants than inhabitants : yet it is not well known in what 

 manner they portion out their time, to the different parts of the 

 world. The migrations of the fieldfare or thrush, are obvious 

 and well known ; they go northward or southward, in one sim- 

 ple track ; when their food fails them here, they have but one 

 region to go to. But it is otherwise with the crane ; he changes 

 place, like a wanderer : he spends the autumn in Europe ; he 

 then flies off, probably to some more southern climate, to enjoy 

 a part of the winter ; returns to Europe in the spring j crosses 

 up to the north in summer ; visits those lakes that are never 

 dry; and then comes down again, to make depredations upon 

 our cultivated grounds, in autumn. Thus, Gesner assures us, 

 that the cranes usually begin to quit Germany, from about the 

 eleventh of September to the seventeenth of October; from 

 thence they are seen flying southward by thousands ; and Redi 

 tells us, they arrive in Tuscany a short time after. There 

 they tear up the fields, newly sown, for the grain just committed 

 to the ground, and do great mischief It is to be supposed, that, 

 in the severity of winter, they go southward, still nearer the line, 



* They iiiQ still, though very rarely, to be seeu in this country. 



