Chap. 33.] 
FOEEIGN BTEDS. 
503 
in the rear, much in the form of a wedge, presenting a vast 
surface to the breeze, as it impels them onward ; those that 
follow place their necks on those that go before, while the 
leading birds, as they become weary, fall to the rear. Storks 
return to their former nests, and the young, in their turn, support 
their parents when old. It is stated that at the moment of 
the swan's death, it gives utterance to a mournful song f but 
this is an error, in my opinion, at least I have tested the truth 
of the story on several occasions. These birds will eat the 
flesh of one another. 
CHAP. 33. FOEEIGN BIEDS WHICH VISIT TJS ; THE QUAIL, THE 
GLOTTIS, THE CYCHKAMTJS, AND THE OTUS. 
Having spoken of the emigration of these birds over sea and 
land, I cannot allow myself to defer mentioning some other 
birds of smaller size, which have the same natural instinct : 
although in the case of those which I have already mentioned, 
their very size and strength would almost seem to invite them 
to such habits. The quail, which always arrives among us 
even before the crane, is a small bird, and when it has once 
arrived, more generally keeps to the ground than flies aloft. 
These birds fly also in a similar manner to those I have already 
spoken of, and not without considerable danger to mariners, 
when they come near the surface of the earth : for it often 
happens that they settle on the sails of a ship, and that too 
always in the night : the consequence of which is, that the 
vessel often sinks. These birds pursue their course along a 
tract of country with certain resting-places. "When the south 
wind is blowing, they will not fly, as that wind is always 
humid, and apt to weigh them down. Still, however, it is an 
object with them to get a breeze to assist them in their flight, 
the body being so light, and their strength so very limited : 
hence it is that we hear them make that murmuriag noise as 
they fly, it being extorted from them by fatigue. It is for 
this reason also, that they take to flight more especially wben 
3 M. Mauduit has a learned discussion in Panckouke's Translation, vol. 
viii., many pages in length ; in which he satisfactorily shows that this is 
not entirely fabulous, but that the wild swan of the northern climates really 
is possessed of a tuneful note or cadence. Of course, the statement that it 
only sings just before its death, must be rejected as fabulous. 
