Natural Hiftory of the Ancients. 179 



When ftorms are over-blown, with food repair 



To their forfaken nefts and callow care. 



Not that I think their breafts with heavenly fouls 



Infpired, as man, who deftiny controls, 



But with the changeful temper of the fkies, 



As rains condenie and funfhine ratifies, 



So turn the fpecies in their altered minds 



Compofed by calms and difcompofed by winds. 



From hence proceeds the birds' harmonious voice, 



From hence the crows exult and frifking lambs rejoice." 1 



Atmofpheric changes connect themfelves, in Virgil's 

 mind, with the changed behaviour of birds. So, 

 when wind is impending: 



" Back from mid ocean home the cormorants fly 

 With clamours, and the coots where fands arc dry 

 Refort, while herons love the upper fky." 2 



Or when rain is imminent : 



" Huge flocks of rifing rooks forfake their food 

 And, crying, feek the flicker of the wood. 

 Befides, the feveral forts of watery fowls 

 That fwim the feas or haunt the Handing pools. 

 Then lave their backs with fprinkling dews in vain, 

 And Item the ftream to meet the promifed rain." 3 



Cranes view it blowing up, and defcend from 

 their lofty flights to the deep valleys with much 

 noife. And elfewhere he compares the buftle 

 infide a beleaguered city to their fcreaming : 



"Juft fo 'neath inky clouds 

 Strymonian cranes fcream, cleaving lofty fkies 

 With clamour, 'fcaping rain with joyous notes." 4 



The notion comes originally from Ariftotle, who 

 fays that cranes fly at a great height, in order that 

 they may difcern things far off; and if they fore- 



1 Dryden, "Georg.," i. 410. 2 Ibid., u 361. 



3 Ibid., i. 381. 



4 "Georg.," i. 374 ; " ^En.," x. 264. 



