C R A 
C R A 
tky of clover; a fourth and fifth with earth-worms 
and beetles; in ibme more, he found lizards and 
fea-fifh; and, in others, fnaiis, grafs, and pebbles. 
From hence we may conclude, that thefe birds are 
eafily fupplied; and that they are deftruftive to 
corn-fields only occafionally. 
The Crane is in general a peaceful bird, both in 
it's own fociety, and with refpeft to the reft of the 
feathered kind. Though fo very large, and appa- 
rently endued with a confiderable fliare of ftrength, 
a falcon purfues, and often difables it, Thofe 
who are fond of the amufement of hawking, let fly 
feveral hawks together againft the Crane, which 
endeavours to avoid them by flying up perpendi- 
cularly, till the air becomes too fine and rare to 
fupport it. The hawks, however, ftill keep pace 
with it; and, though lefs adapted than the Crane 
for floating in fo thin a medium, being poflfefl^ed of 
greater rapidity, they gain the afcendency. Both 
parties often rife out of fight; but fhortly after be- 
gin to appear again, tumbling perpendicularlv to- 
gether, with great animofity on the fide of the 
hawks, and with loud fcreai^nings on that of the 
Crane. Thus driven to extremity, and unable to 
fly, the poor Crane throws itfelf down on it's back, 
and in that fituation makes a defperate refifliance, 
till the fportfman coming up, puts a final period to 
the conteft. 
In ages lefs refined than the prefent, the barba- 
rous diverfion of breeding up Cranes to be thus 
baited, was much pra6lifed, the young ones being 
taken from the neft for this favage purpofe. The 
Crane is certainly an animal very eafily tamed; 
and, if we may credit Albertus Magnus, has a par- 
ticular afteftion for man. The female, which may 
be dirtinguiflied from the male by being covered 
with feathers in thofe parts where the other is bald, 
never lays more than two eggs at a time; which 
are like thofe of a goofe, but of a blueifla colour. 
The young are foon capable of flying; and then 
the parents, after fliewing them where their food is 
moft eafily to be found, forfake them for ever. 
Though yet unfledged, they run with fuch amaz- 
ing fwiftnefs, as to be with difficulty overtaken 
by any of the human fpecies. As they advance 
in years, their plumage becomes gradually darker 
and darker; and, as a proof of their longevity, 
Aldrovandus aflfures us, that a friend of his kept 
one of them in a tame ftate for upwards of forty 
years. 
The commonalty of every country, even at tliis 
period, pay a companionate kind of regard to tjie 
Crane, the ancient prejudices in it's favour perhaps 
ftill continuing to operate. In feme kingdomis, it 
is confidered as a heinous offence to kill one of 
thefe birds ; and though the legiflature decline pu- 
nifiiing the off^ence, the vulgar fail not to refent the 
injury. It is, in fome meafure, confidered as the 
prophet of the feafon; and, according to it's ap- 
proach or delay, they regulate the periods of their 
rural oeconomy; if their favourite bird makes an 
early appearance, they expe<5l a plentiful fummer; 
but, if it is tardy in it's vifit, they then prepare for 
an unpropitious one. 
Crane, Balearic, the crowned African Crane 
of Edwards. This fpecies refembles the common 
Crane in it's fize and figure; but the bill is ftiorter, 
and the plumage of a dark greenifii grey. The 
m.oft ftriking parts, however, of this bird's figure, 
are the head and throat. On tlie head there is a 
thick round creft, compofed of briftles fpreading 
on every fide, and refembling rays diverging dif- 
ferent ways; the longeft of which rays is about 
three inches and a half; and they are all topped 
with a kind of black taflTels, which have a very 
beautiful effeft. The fides of the head are bare, 
whitifli, and edged with red ; and a kind of wat- 
tle hangs beneath the throat, refembling that of a 
cock, except that it is undivided. The eyes are 
large and prominent; the pupils are black, with 
gold-coloured irides; and on each chap there is 
the appearance of a white line, terminating in one 
that is red on the upper part. 
This bird, which is a native of the coaft of 
Africa and the Cape de Verd iflands, feeds on grafs 
and feeds. As it runs, it extends it's wings, and 
moves very fwiftly; but it's ufual pace is flow and 
majeftic. 
Crane, Hooping. The length of this bird, 
from the tip of the bill to the end of the claws, is 
five feet feven inches ; the bone which extends from 
the knee to the foot is eleven inches; and the thigh 
is bare five inches above the knee: the middlemoil 
toe is five inches long without the claw ; and the 
bill, which is toothed at the point, is fix inches 
long. The noftrils are placed, in the channels on 
each fide, at about a third part of the length from 
the head ; and the chaps are of a yellowifh brown co- 
lour at their extremities, and a little duflcy in the 
middle. The top of the head is covered with a red- 
difli flcin ; behind which there is a triangular fpot, 
with one of the points backwards. The fides of the 
head, the throat, neck, body, and tail, are white; but 
the nine exterior quills of the wings are black; the 
tenth is black and white; and the reft are entirely 
white. The outer and middle toes are united by 
a web as far as the firft joint; and the legs and feet 
are covered with black fcales. 
The Hooping Crane is generally confidered as 
a bird of paflage: it is, liowever, obferved, about 
the beginning of fpring, near the mouths of the ri- 
vers in Florida. 
Crane, Brown and Ash-Coloured. The 
bill of this bird is four inches long ; and the wings, 
when clofed, are eighteen inches. The leg-bone, 
from the knee to the foot, is feven inches long; 
and the middle toe is above three inches. The 
bill, which is formed like that of the hooping 
Crane, is of a dufky colour, except the point of 
the lower chap, which is of a light flefh. The top 
of the head, from the bill to the ear-holes, is co- 
vered with a reddifh fkin, thinly befet with black 
hairs ; but the fides of the head beneath the eyes, 
and the inferior fide of the throat, are white. The 
hinder parts of the head and neck all round are ci- 
nereous, and gradually become brown at the rife 
of the breall. The beginning of the back, and 
the covert-feathers of the wings, are of a light red- 
difli brown^ with tips of a darker hue. The greater 
quills are a blackifh brown, with white fhafts; and 
thofe v/hich fall next tJie back are brown, their 
points extending beyond the prime-quills when the 
wings are clofed. The tail is of a brownifh afli- 
colour; and the breaft changes from brown to ci- 
nereous, which colour reaches to the coveit-feathers 
of the tail, where they are whitifh. The lower part 
of the back, th^ rump, and the upper coverts of the 
tail, are of a light afh ; and the legs, feet, and claws, 
are entirely black, the former being bare above the 
knees. This bird v/as firft brought from Hud- 
fon's Bay, to v/hich it reforts in the fummer fea- 
fon. 
Crane, Numtdian. This bird is vulgarly 
called the buffoon- Ipird; and, by the French, demoi- 
fdle. 
