ORDER grall.t;. 477 



fable, it is possible that the latter were only a species of mon- 

 keys or apes. These birds, quitting Sweden, Scotland, the 

 Orcades, Podolia, Lithuania, and all northern Europe, come, 

 in the autumnal season, and settle in the marshy parts of 

 France, Italy, &c., pass from there into still more southern 

 regions, and, returning thence in spring, bury themselves 

 anew in the cold bosom of the north. 



The cranes, whose flight is very elevated, experience some 

 difficulty in taking their spring from the ground. They run 

 some paces, raise themselves a little at first, and then unfold 

 a powerful and rapid wing. They form in the air very nearly 

 an isosceles triangle, doubtless for the purpose of cutting 

 the element with greater facility. When the eagle attacks 

 them, or the wind is likely to break their order, they close in 

 circles. Their passage often takes place during the night ; 

 but their sonorous voice announces it, and the chief of the 

 troop often utters, to indicate the route he is taking, a cry of 

 appeal, to which all his followers respond. The clamorous 

 noise of these birds is often alluded to by the ancient 

 poets : — 



" Quales sub nubibus atris 



Strymoniae dant signa grues, atque aethera tranant 

 Cum sonitu, fugiuntque Notos clamore secundo." 



JEneidy X, 264, &c. 



The various inflections of their flight have been regarded 

 as presages of the weather, and indications of atmospheric 

 temperature. Their cries in the day-time are ominous of 

 rain, and, according to the poet just cited — 



ilium surgentem, vallibus imis, 



ASriae fugere grues." 



More noisy clamours announce the coming tempest ; 

 a steady and elevated flight in the morning or evening, for- 



