Flight of Cranes, 
267 
of white, fine, straight feathers, eqnall on the top, and there spreading 
themselves into a round forme, like a very white mushroom with a white 
stalke, and resembling a sombrero de sol (or Indian canopie) to keepe off 
the sunne. The Cafars call this the king of birds, because their kings 
have such a sombreiro, and for the greatnesse and beauty of them.”' 
( Piirchas , vol. ii. p. 1545.) 
There was a notion, derived from antiquity, that cranes 
during their migrations carried stones in their beaks to 
keep them quiet. According to Pliny, the stone acted as 
ballast and maintained the steadiness of their flight. 
Lyly alludes to this notion : “ Having alwayes the stone 
in their mouths which the cranes use when they flye 
over mountaines least they make a noise” ( Euphues y 
p. 416). 
Du Bartas gives a description of the passage of a herd 
of cranes, more remarkable for its minuteness than for its 
poetry 
“ I hear the crane, if I mistake not, cry 
Who in the clouds forming the forked Y, 
By the brave orders practiz’d under her, 
Instructeth souldiers in the art of war. 
For when her troops of wandring cranes forsake 
Frost-firmed Strymon, and (in autumn) take 
Truce with the northern dwarfs, to seek adventure 
In southern climates for a milder winter ; 
A front each hand a forward captain flies, 
Whose pointed bill cuts passage through the skies ; 
Two skilful sergeants keep the ranks aright, 
And with their voyce hasten their tardy flight; 
And when the honey of care-charming sleep 
Sweetly begins through all their veines to creep 
One keeps the watch, and ever carefull-most. 
Walks many a round about the sleeping hoast, 
Still holding in his claw a stony clod, 
Whose fall may wake him if he hap to nod. 
Another doth as much, a third, a fourth, 
Untill, by turns the night he turned forth.” 
(Page 4G.) 
Shakspeare has no mention of the crane. 
