308 HISTORY OF 



on any side, the bird that first perceives the danger is sure to 

 sound the alarm, and all are speedily ui)on the wing. 



As they rise but heavily, they are veiy shy birds, and seldom 

 let the fowler approach them. Their depredations are usually 

 made in the darkest nights ; at which time they enter a field of 

 corn, and trample it down, as if it had been crossed over by a 

 regiment of soldiers. On other occasions, they choose some ex- 

 tensive solitary marsh, where they range themselves all day, as 

 if they were in deliberation ; and not having that grain which is 

 most to their appetites, wade the marshes for insects and other 

 food, which they can procure with less danger. 



Corn is their favourite food ; but there is scarcely any other 

 that comes amiss to them. Redi, who opened several, found-tbe 

 stomach of one full of the herb called dandelion ; that of another 

 was filled with beans ; a third had a great quantity of clover in 

 its stomach : while that of two others was filled with earth- 

 worms and beetles ; in some he found lizards and sea-fish ; in 

 others, snails, grass, and pebbles, swallowed perhaps for medi- 

 cinal purposes. It seems, therefore, that these birds are easily 

 supplied ; and that they are noxious to corn-fields but on some 

 particular occasions.* 



In general it is a peoceful bird, both in its own society, and 

 with respect to those of the forest. Though so large in appear- 

 ance, a little falcon pursues, and often disables it. The method 

 is, with those who are fond of hawking, to fly several hawks to- 

 gether against it ; which the crane endeavours to avoid, by fly- 

 ing up perpendicularly, till the air becomes too thin to support 

 it any higher. The hawk, however, still bears it company ; and 

 though less fitted for floating in so thin a medium, yet, possessed 

 of greater rapidity, it still gains the ascendancy. They both 

 often rise out of sight ; but soon the spectator, who keeps his 

 eye fixed above, perceives them, like two specks, beginning 

 to appear : they gather on his eye for a little space, and shortly 

 after come tumbling perpendicularly together, with great ani- 

 mosity on the side of the hawk, and a loud screaming on that of 

 the crane. Thus driven to extremity, and unable to fly, the 

 poor animal throws itself upon its back, and, in that situation, 

 makes a most desperate defence, till the sportsman coming up. 

 generally puts an end to the contest with its life. 



* The aliment of cranes is more vegetable than that of storks, herons, &c. 



