Tri] AND SYMBOLS. 359 



grave one. There are fifty or a hundred. At first they move 

 hither and thither, groups are formed, much passionate clapper- 

 ing is going on, and all betokens the approach, of a stormy 

 debate. At length the parties close up and form a large im- 

 posing ring, in the centre of which, resigned to his fate, stands 

 the victim. Single voices, shrill and loud, make themselves 

 heard ; it is the advocate for the prosecution who brings for- 

 ward the impeachment, and those charged with the defence, 

 who fight the battle of the accused, whose sole crime consists 

 in his weakness, and who, unable to bear the fatigues of the 

 journey, it is now proposed to kill for his own and the people's 

 good. The assembly frequently interrupts by its impetuosity 

 the pathos of the speakers. At this moment another rises ; 

 he seems to make a declaration, and then the unfortunate 

 wretch, pierced by the weapons of the assembly, succumbs to an 

 early death. The rights of supremacy have been maintained, 

 the multitude disperses, and there is now nothing more to pre- 

 vent the departure of the caravan. For ancient attestations of 

 this fact see Pliny, ^lian, Melancthon, Aldrovandi, Gessner, 

 and others. In the northern part of Scotland, says Dr. 

 Edmonson, and in the Faroe Islands, extraordinary meetings 

 of crows are occasionally known to occur. They collect 

 in great numbers, as if they had all been summoned for 

 the occasion ; a few of the flock sit with drooping heads, and 

 others seem as grave as judges, while others again are exceed- 

 ingly active and noisy*. In the course of about one hour they 

 disperse, and it is not uncommon, after they have flown away, 

 to find one or two left dead upon the spot. These meetings 

 will sometimes continue for a day or two before the object, 

 whatever it may be, is completed. Crows continue to arrive 

 from all quarters during the session. As soon as they have all 

 arrived, a very general noise ensues ; and shortly after the 

 whole fall upon one or two individuals and put them to death. 

 When the execution has been performed they quietly dis- 

 perse. R. 



Profitless Triumphs. 



Men frequently purchase their triumphs at the cost of 

 health or life. History is replete with instances of men who 



