82 
A COURAGEOUS BIRD. 
soiitli wards, as the seasons may be, in marslialled order, 
high in the air, their sonorous voices distinctly heard even 
from their elevated course ; occasionally they descend, 
attracted by newly sown fields, or the prospect of finding 
food in marshes, on the borders of rivers, or even the 
shores of the sea ; but generally they continue their flight 
unchecked towards their distant resting place.' 
Kolben observes that these birds are often seen in large 
flocks in the marshes about the Cape of Good Hope. He 
never saw a flock of them on the ground that had not 
some birds placed, apparently as sentinels, to keep a look 
out, while the others are feeding. These sentinels stand on 
one leg, and at intervals stretch out their necks, as if to 
observe that all is safe. On any notice of danger, the 
whole flock are instantly on the wing. Thus far we can 
believe the narrator, for it is no imusual thing for birds, 
as well as other animals, to set a watch to give the alarm 
should any danger approach while they are feeding ; but 
when he asserts that, in the night time, each of the watch- 
Cranes, as they rest on their left legs, hold a stone of con- 
siderable weight in the right claw, in order that if they 
fall asleep the dropping of the stone may awake them, Ave 
are incredulous ; this is too like a traveller's story. 
The Crane, it seems, is a courageous bird, if what is 
related in * The Akbar,' a newspaper of Algiers, be true, 
■which we may w^ell believe it is : — 
A number of Cranes, some days ago, alighted on the road from 
Orlcansvillo to Tenes, near a spot where some soldiers were at work, 
and presently a large Eagle, swooping down on them, attempted to 
seize one ; but the Cranes defended and rescued tlieir unfortunate 
companion. The Eagle then tried to seize another, hut all the Cranes 
defended themselves vigorously, and a regular battle ensued. After 
it had raged for some time the Eavens arrived, and took the part of 
the Cranes. The combat then continued with renewed fur}-, and there 
is no saying what would have been the result, if a soldier had not 
dispersed the combatants by killing one of the Cranes with his sword. 
The fury of the conflict may be judged of from the fact that the soldier 
was able to get close to the Cranes without being noticed. Although, 
however, when the conflict was put an end to, the Eagle seized one of 
the Cranes, and bore it off in triumph. 
Like the Stork, the Crane, in Eastern countries, is said 
to build not only in inhabited places, but on the tops of 
