C R A 
C R A 
Irifh, cherlfh, and fnpport when flying, we are to 
learn lefiTons of filial piety ; but particularly, from 
their conduft in fighting with the pigmies of 
Ethiopia, we are to receive our maxims in the art 
of war. 
In early times, the hiftory of nature fell to the 
lot of poets only, and certainly none could defcribe 
it better: but it is a part of their province to em- 
beliilh their defcriptions with adfcititious orna- 
ments ; and, when this captivating fcience was cul- 
tivated by a more cool and fober clafs of authors, 
they were obliged to take the accounts of things as 
they found them; and, in the prefent inftance, fa- 
ble was handed down to pofterity blended v/ith a 
certain portion of truth. 
There is unqueftionably fome degree of reality ^ 
in thefe relations ; but they have been grcady exag- 
gerated by fancy. Cranes are certainly very focial 
birds, being feldom feen alone: they ufua'iy fly or 
fit in flocks of fifty or fixty together; and, while 
fom.e of them feed, others v/atch as centinels on 
duty. The fable of their fupporting their aged 
parents may probably have oiiginated from their 
ftri£l connubial afl-'eftion ; and as to dieir fighting 
with pigmies, it may not be improbable that they 
have at times boldly withfl:ood fuch monkies as at- 
tempted to rob their nefts ; for, in thefe cafes, as 
Cranes live on vegetables, it is not likely that they 
fliould be the firft aggreflTors. 
The Crane is a vagrant, focial bird, and is known 
in every country of F.urope except our own. 
* There is no part of the world,' fays Belionius, 
' where the fields are cultivated, that the Cranes 
do not come in with the hufbandman for a fliare of 
the harvefl:. As birds of paflage, they are ob- 
ferved to depart and return regularly at thofe fea- 
fbns when their provifion invites or repels them. 
They generally quit Europe about the latter end 
of autumn, and return at the beginning of fum- 
mer. In the interior parts of the continent, they 
are feen croffing the country in flocks of fifty or a 
hundred, and making from the northern regions to- 
wards the fouthern. In thefe migrations, howe- 
ver, they are not fo refolutely bent on expedition, 
but that, if a field of corn prefents itfelf in their 
way, they will make a halt to regale on it. On 
fuch occafions they do incredible damage ; and as 
tlreir depredations are generally perfoi'med during 
the night, when the hufbandman rifes in the morn- 
ing, with fbrrow he perceives his fields laid wafte 
by an enemy whofe fwiftnefs his vengeance cannot 
overtake.' 
Cranes were formerly known in England, and 
held in great eftimation for the delicacy of their 
flefh ; and there was alfo a penalty laid on thofe 
who deib'oyed their eggs: but, at prefent, this 
country is too populous, as well as too well culti- 
vated ; and though our fields may offer them abund- 
ance, their hazard would certainly be greater than 
their enjoyment. Nor, indeed, does it appear that 
we are not greater gainers by their abfence than we 
fiiould be by their company ; for however delicious 
their flefli might once have been, when, as Plutarch 
informs us. Cranes were blinded, and kept in coops, 
in order to be fattened for the tables of tlie great 
in Rome; or, when they were brought up, ftufied 
with mint, and rue, to the tables of our nobles at 
home ; they are now juilly confidered over the wliole 
continent of Europe as wretched food, their flefh 
being fibrous and dry, and only fit for the flo- 
machs of the robuft and the laborious. 
The favourite abodes of Cranes are the arclic 
regions: they defcend into the more fouthern parts 
of Europe rather as vifitants than inhabitants; yet 
it is not well afcertained in what manner they por- 
tion out their time with refped to the different 
parts of the world. The migrations of the field- 
fare and the thrufh are obvious and well known 5 
they proceed northward or fbuthward in one unde- 
viating courfe; and, when their food fails them 
here, they have but one region to repair to. But 
Cranes change their places like wanderers. Gef- 
ner affures us, that thele birds begin to quit Ger- 
many about the middle of September, and finally 
leave it about the middle of Odober; from whence 
tliey are feen flying fbuthward by thoufands: and 
Rhedi tells us, that they arrive in Tufcany a very 
fliort time after, where they tear up the newly-fown 
grain, and do incredible mifchief. During the fe- 
verity of the winter, it is probable that they ap- 
proach nearer the line ; and, about the middle of 
February, they again vifit Italy, anticipating the 
fpring, and affording the natives a prelude of that 
delightful fealbn. 
The heights to which thefe birds afcend in their 
migrations is truly aftonlfhing; and their notes, 
which are the loudefl of all other birds, are heard 
in tlie clouds at a diftance v/holly imperceptible. 
As they are lightly framed in propordon to their 
fize, and expand tlieir wings to a great extent, they 
are capable of floating at the greatefl; heights, where 
the air is mofl- pure; and thus fecure their fafety 
by being entirely out of the reach of man. 
Though Cranes, during their aerial voyages, 
are .altogether imperceptible to human eyes, they 
have die moft diftind vifion of every obiedl be- 
low them: they direcEl their flight by their cries; 
and incite each other to defcend whenever a fit 
opportunity for depredation prefents itfelf. Their 
voice, as before obferved, is the loudefl; of all the 
feathered tribe; and it's peculiar clangor arifes 
from the extraordinary length and contortions of 
tlieir wind-pipes. In quadrupeds, the v/ind-pipe 
is fkort ; and the glottis, or cartilages which form 
the voice, are fituated at that end next the mouth : 
but in water-fowl, die wind-pipe is longer, and 
the cartilages which form the voice are placed at 
the other end, which lies down in the belly. Cranes, 
therefore, have more fonorous voices, in propor- 
tion to their fize, than any other animals; for their 
note, when formed below, is reverberated through 
all the revolutions of the wind-pipe till it reaches 
the air. 
As thefe birds rife but heavily, they are ex- 
tremely fliy, and feldom fuffer mankind to ap- 
proach them. I'heir depredations are ufually 
committed during the darkefl: nights, when they 
fometimes vifit a field of corn, and trample it down 
as if it had been croffed by an army; and if, on 
fuch occafions, diey are invaded on any fide, the 
Crane that firft perceives the danger is fure to 
found the alarm, and all of them are inflantaneoufly 
on the wing. Sometimes they make choice of an ex- 
tenfive, fblitary marfli, where they range themfelves 
for a whole day as if in the ad of deliberation ; and, 
after finding it impradicable to procure that fpecies 
of food which is moft congenial to their appetites, 
they wade the marfhes in icarch of infeds, and 
other nourifhment which can be obtained in fe- 
curity. Corn, indeed, is their favourite food ; but 
hardly any dring comes arnifs to them. Rhedi, 
who difleded feveral of thefe birds, found one of 
their ftomachs filled with the herb dandelion; that 
of another with beans ; a third with a larp-e auan- 
Eo "1 
tity 
