124 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Supposed to be invulnerable. 



of a gigantic crane, a land tortoise ten inches 

 long, and a large bhick male cat, were found en- 

 tire within it ; the former in the craw, and the 

 latter in its stomach. Being altogether un- 

 daunted at the sight of mankind, they are soon 

 rendered familiar; and when fish or other food 

 are thrown to them, they catch them very nim- 

 bly, and immediately swallow them whole. 



The gigantic cranes are believed by the Indi- 

 ans to be animated by the souls of the Brah- 

 mins, and consequently to be invulnerable. They 

 are held in the highest veneration both by the 

 Indians and Africans. Mr. Ives, in attempting 

 to kill some of them with his gun, missed his 

 shot several times ; which the by-standers ob- 

 served with the greatest satisfaction, telling him 

 triumphantly that he might shoot at them as 

 long as he pleased, but he would never be able 

 to kill them. 



This very probably is the species mentioned 

 by Mr. Smeathman, as being seen by him in 

 Africa. He describes it as full seven feet high, 

 and appearing at a distance not unlike a " grey- 

 headed man :" on the middle of the neck before 

 was a long conic membrane, like a bladder, co- 

 vered very sparingly with short down, and rising 

 or falling as the animal moved its beak, but 

 always appearing inflated. 



Gigantic cranes are found in companies; and 

 when seen at a distance, near the mouths of 

 rivers, coming towards an observer (which they 



