THE EGRET — THE ADJUTANT. 201 



The Crane, in his unostentatious ash-grey, 



And with pinions of power that he chose to display,. 



Arose at two bounds with an eel in his mouth; 



The little white Egret, too, came from the south. 



shot and eaten at Keswick by a young Cantab a few years ago ; 

 for which shooting," says Mr. Southey, " I vituperate him in 

 spirit whenever I think of it." 



The Egretta, Great-Egret, or Great-White- Heron, is three 

 feet three inches long ; the whole plumage white. It is found in 

 both North and South America; builds sometimes on trees; eggs 

 three or four, pale blue; feeds on frogs, lizards, &c. ; if taken 

 young, easily domesticated. 



The Garzetta, or Little-Egret, is the size of a fowl ; the 

 whole plumage white; found in all the warmer parts of the 

 globe; once plentiful in this country, although now extremely 

 scarce. 



The Gigantea, Gigantic-Crane, Adjutant, Hurgill, drgill, 

 Argala, Large-Throat, or Bone-taker, is the largest of the tribe, 

 expanding fourteen feet ten inches ; the bill is of a vast size, yel- 

 lowish-white or horn colour, and opens very far up into the head; 

 the head and neck naked ; front yellow; on the lower part of 

 the neck, and before, is a large conical pouch ; the upper part 

 of the back and shoulders furnished with white feathers ; back 

 and wing coverts deep bluish ash; beneath white. Inhabits the 

 East Indies and Africa; feeds on various reptiles; a very useful 

 bird, and hence much respected. The feathers of the vent used 

 by the ladies as ornaments for the head in a similar way as those 

 of the ostrich. 



A Crane is described in Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor, 

 as having a white body with black pinions; it is like a heron, 

 but much larger ; it builds frequently on domes, and other build- 

 ings. They often make a great clatter with their long beaks, 

 which is sometimes repeated by others all over the town. This 

 noise is sometimes continued through the whole of the night, 



K o 



