Graculi — Grus 95 



And now, that you may know what sort of bird the 

 Switzers' Waltrapus may be, which I conjecture is the Phala- 

 crocorax, and the third kind of Graculus, it is a bird long 

 in the body, which is rather less than that of the Ciconia, 

 and the legs short but stout, the bill reddish, a little hooked, 

 and six inches in length— further it had a white spot on the 

 head, and that, unless my memory fails me, bare. If it be 

 web-footed and swim at times, I should affirm that it un- 

 doubtedly was the third kind of Graculus; but, though 

 I have myself had the bird in my hands, I do not now 

 remember whether it was web-footed or not, nor whether 

 it was bald. Wherefore I will determine nothing, until I shall 

 have a surer knowledge of these things. 



Besides the said three kinds of Graculi described by 

 Aristotle I know a fourth, which I have seen upon the 

 Rhstic Alps, smaller than Aristotle's Lupus, black and 

 marked with spots of white on the whole body, as a Starling 

 is ; it far surpasses all the above-named kinds in chattering ; 

 it always lives in woods and mountains. Now to this the 

 Rhetians have given the name of Nucifraga, from the nuts 

 which it breaks with its bill and eats. 



Of the Grus. 



Fe/jayo?, grus, in English a crane, in German eyn kran, 

 or eyn kranich. 



Aristotle. 



Others come almost from earth's utmost parts, 

 as do the Grues, which come from the Scythians 

 to the Egyptian marshes, whence the Nile flows 

 forth : in which place they are said to fight with 

 Pygmies. And this is no mere fable, but assuredly 

 there is, as it is said, a dwarf race both of men and 

 horses, and they live in caves, whence they have got 

 the name of Troglodytae, from dwelling in caves. 

 The Grues furthermore do many things with prudence, 

 for they seek for their convenience distant places, and 

 fly high that they may look out far, and, if they shall 



