368 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



Cranes frequent large plains intersected with marshes and water- 

 courses. They feed on fish, reptiles, frogs, mollusks, worms, 

 insects, and even small mammals. Some kinds of grain have 

 also attractions for them, and they may not unfrequently be seen 

 invading the newly- sown fields to devour the seed which the 

 farmer has just committed to the soil. 



When the breeding season arrives, they break up their social 

 compact, and pair off for the purposes of reproduction and 

 attending to the rearing of their young. 



Their nests are but roughly constructed, and are placed on any 

 little piece of rising ground in the midst of the marshes ; in them 

 they lay usually two eggs, the male sharing with the female the 

 cares of incubation. Although these birds are ordinarily so 

 timid, and are alarmed at the least appearance of danger, yet, 

 when they have their young ones to defend, they become really 

 courageous. In this case they do not shrink from attacking 

 man. 



The Crane ought to have been the emblem of vigilance. When 

 the flock go to sleep, with their heads hidden under their wings, 

 one of their number is specially charged with the duty of watching 

 over their common safety, and of giving alarm on the approach 

 of danger. 



When caught young they are easily tamed, and in a very 

 short time will manifest considerable familiarity with their 

 keeper. They are, therefore, a good deal sought after in some 

 countries, both on account of their graceful shape, and also for 

 the sake of the vigilance which they exercise round about their 

 home. 



These birds were well known in ancient times; Homer, 

 Herodotus, Aristotle, Plutarch, ^Elian, Pliny, and Strabo 

 have noticed them and their migrations. Unfortunately, not 

 content with correct observations, they have given credence to 

 some most ridiculous fables, invented in Greece and Egypt, the 

 classic and fertile lands of the marvellous. Thus, according to 

 the Egyptian story, the Cranes made an expedition to the sources 

 of the Nile to fight against the Pygmies, who were, as Aristotle 

 says, " a race of little men, mounted on little horses, who dwelt 



