336 
GRUS VERSUS HOMO. 
were formerly trained to the exercise, and by skilful instructors were 
taught to execute the most ingenious pantomimes and sprightly mea- 
sures. Persons who have watched the mazy motions of domestic 
turkeys, will find nothing surprising in this statement. But the turkej', 
says a French writer gravely, without being an enemy of dancing, has, 
however, much less natural vocation than the cranes for this art. 
The moral characteristic which distinguishes the genus "crane" 
from every other, is their respect for discipline and order. Nothing in 
their commonwealth is promulgated or carried out which has not been 
previously discussed in public session ; and obedience to the law is then 
esteemed the primary duty of all citizens. The day and hour of their 
migrations are regulated by a senatus consultus, in the enactment of 
which every adult bird takes part. The leaders of the expedition are 
appointed in public assembly by the majority, or rather by a unani- 
mous vote ; for intrigues are impossible where the attainment (^f rank 
confers no other advantage than that of serving the republic in the 
most perilous post. Accordingly, all the sufii-ages are given to merit 
and capacity, — to the most vigorous wings, the keenest sight, the most 
consummate geographical erudition. When the fate of an expedition 
depends on the experience and wisdom of its leader, we can conceive 
that the choice of that leader will be for all interested a matter of close 
investigation ; and as all are equally concerned, there can be no reason 
why any vote should go astray, and fall on an unworthy individual. 
The genus Homo is, in this respect, mucli less advanced than the genus 
Grus, humiliating as such a confession must be felt. The genus Homo, 
moreover, has explicitly recognized the ^visdom evidenced in the 
deliberations of the genus Grus, by giving to its political and diplo- 
matic assemblies the significant name of " congress," which is derived 
from the Latin congruere, " to gather together like cranes." A con- 
gress therefore means the assembly par excellence. 
We have described the order assumed by the cranes in their 
periodical migrations as triangular, or wedge-like, which was also the 
order of attack of the celebrated Macedonian phalanx. The directing 
and controlling power of the number Three, and of the triangle, are well 
known, says Toussenel ; and no doubt they played an important part 
