370 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



complete authenticity. It is certainly true that these birds form 

 groups in various fashions, advance one tov>'ards another, make a 

 kind of salutation, adopt the strangest postures— in a word, indulge 

 in pantomimes both burlesque and amusing. This is, we must con- 

 fess, a curious element in their character, and has been made the 

 most of bj-- the Chinese, who are in the habit of teaching Cranes 

 to dance according to all the rules of art. 



Tlie ancients set a high value on the flesh of the Crane, which 

 is, nevertheless, an3'thing but good. The Greeks especially 

 shovi'cd a great fondness for it ; they used to fatten these birds 

 after having put out their eyes or sewed up their eyelids ; this 

 cruelty being necessary, accoixliug to their idea, to cause a proper 

 degree of plumpness. 



In the tine old daj's of hawking, the Crane, as well as the Heron, 

 enjoj^ed the esteem of jjrinces. Even in the present day, in 

 Japan, it is reserved for the sport of the Tdicoiin (king), and the 

 common people treat it Avith all the respect that is consequently 

 its due. 



We should certainly fall short in our traditionary lore if we 

 failed to relate the far-famed story of the Cranes of Ibvcus. 

 Ibycus of Pthegium was a lyric poet, who enjoyed some reputa- 

 tion in his day. On one occasion, when he was proceeding to the 

 Olympic Games in order to contend for the poet's prize, he 

 lost his way in a forest, and fell into the hands of two malefactors, 

 who cruelly murdered him. Just as he -was dying he cast his eves 

 towards heaven, and perceiving a flock of Cranes passino- over, he 

 cried out, " j'e bird-travellers, become the avengers of Ibvcus ! " 

 The next day the two robbers were quietly taking a part in the 

 Olympic contests, when the news of the murder, which arrived 

 during the da^r, excited some sorrowful emotion. All of a sudden a 

 flight of Cranes passed over the arena, uttering loud cries. " Do 

 you see the Cranes of Ibycus ? " said one of the murderers to his 

 comrade in a humoi'ous tone. This remark, being overheard bv 

 some persons standing by, and commented upon by a thousand liijs, 

 became the ruin of the two scoundrels. At once arrested and 

 pressed with questions, they were compelled to confess their crime 

 and were immediately put to death. Thus was fulfilled the dvino- 

 invocation of Ibycus. 



