THE CRANE. 



Nocturnal expeditions Presages. 



rally make choice of the places which they oc- 

 cupied the preceding season,) and in the winter 

 inhabiting the warmer regions of Egypt and 

 India. They fly very high ; and arrange them- 

 selves in the form of a triangle, the better to 

 cleave the air. When the wind freshens, and 

 threatens to break their ranks, they collect their 

 force into a circle; and they adopt the same dis- 

 position .when the eagle attacks them. Their 

 migratory voyages are chiefly performed in the 

 night ; but their loud screams betray their course. 

 During these nocturnal expeditions the leader 

 frequently calls to rally his forces, and point out 

 the track ; and the cry is repeated by the flock, 

 each answering, to give notice that it follows and 

 keeps its rank. 



The flight of the crane is always supported 

 uniformly, though it is marked by different in- 

 flections: and these variations have even been 

 observed to indicate the change of weather ; a 

 sagacity that may well be allowed to a bird,, 

 which, by the vast height to which it soars, is 

 enabled to perceive the distant alterations and 

 motions in the atmosphere. Its cry, during the 

 day, forebodes rain; and its noisy tumultuous 

 screams announces a storm. If, in a morning 

 or evening it rise upwards, and fly peacefully in 

 a body, it is a sign of fine weather ; but if it 

 keep low, or alight on the ground, this menaces 

 a tempest. When the cranes are assembled on 

 the ground, they are said to set guards during 



VOL. iv. NO. '25. o 



